Louis van Gaal has explained why Ander Herrera has started both of Manchester United’s Premier League games this season on the bench. “He had a lot of ball losses, but not only him, also his fellow players”. But we scored one more than our opponents and you can’t get more than six points (from two games).
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Louis van Gaal’s surprise inclusion of Adnan Januzaj, who made his first start since February, was vindicated on 29 minutes when the young Belgian opened the scoring with a deflected low finish.
“But in spite of this, we had more chances than the opposition, and bigger chances, and we scored a fantastic goal after a fantastic pass from Juan Mata and a fantastic cut from Adnan”. “I am happy at Manchester United and I am happy the way the manager worked with me so I don’t have any issues with that”, Januzaj said.
Rooney spent much of last season in midfield, but Van Gaal has installed the 29-year-old as his first-choice centre-forward after the departures of Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao. “I think the most important thing was that we kept our goal with very few chances but it was a very compact defence today”.
However, United supporters took pleasure in seeing their side look so invulnerable and durable away from home.
“I like a second striker in that position (behind Rooney) more than a third midfielder”.
“There is a lot of pressure because our aim and goal is to reach the Champions League, and that is what Arsene Wenger mentioned last year, that these kind of matches are hard”, Van Gaal told his pre-match media conference at Old Trafford. I’m confident that will come.
In the goalkeeping department, meanwhile, Sergio Romero will hold onto his spot between the posts as the transfer speculation surrounding usual choice David de Gea and a move to Real Madrid rages on. However, referee Mike Dean said play on as the first half ended 1-0 in favor of United. “They try to take instruction on, it’s not always flawless but they will improve”.
“I thought we nullified them but didn’t carry a threat ourselves which is a bit disappointing”, he said.
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“I think it’s a matter of time for Memphis”.
