“I thought we played fantastic in the first half and the second half was a test of survival because we were very exhausted”, added Van Gaal.
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With eight matches of the league campaign remaining, United still have to face title-chasing pair Tottenham and Leicester as they bid to secure a spot in Europe’s elite competition for next season.
Fernandinho also headed over the bar from a Navas corner, but United s pace on the break gave them a ready outlet and in the 16th minute they struck.
“I like him very much, but still he is 18 or 19 years old so we have to wait and see how consistent he is”.
“I have not seen the match but I can only conclude it was because of tiredness and that is what we have done to them”.
“The gap would have been too big if we had drawn or lost”. “Now you have a big possibility”.
‘It was a risk that the manager played them both but a risk that was rewarded with superb performances’.
Speaking on Match of the Day 2 on Sunday, he said: ‘He (Van Gaal) played Lingard in a number 10 role, with Rashford as a striker. Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini said yesterday he was not losing control of his players despite their increasingly disappointing form since learning that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season. City have collected seven points from 21 available since. If you see the attitude of the team today, (it) reflects they are all involved in what we want to do.
“I don’t think we have had a lot of luck this season and now we have a big result against Man City at the Etihad Stadium to go one point behind, equal with West Ham”. I’m happy because it is not easy to win here. The players are focused. Raheem in his groin and Joe in his calf.
Pellegrini estimated that both would be out for “three or four weeks”, which would rule them out of England’s forthcoming friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands and potentially next month’s two-legged Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain as well.
Martín Demichelis was substituted after a torrid afternoon in which he was beaten by Rashford in the buildup to the goal.
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“Now I think it shall turn a little bit with the new board in Federation Internationale de Football Association, so I hope that the video referee shall come”.
