Former players lined up to blame the Dutch coach with Paul Scholes calling United “average” and Rio Ferdinand saying that falling into Europe’s second tier competition was “an embarrassment”.
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“No. I don’t have any doubts”, Van Gaal said of his ability to win trophies with United. When you’re a player you can feel it, you can see it. The 10 games I played I thought I played very well apart from [a 5-3 defeat to] Leicester. It’s hard to know.
“So the problem is that we have to meet with the expectations, and the expectations at a club like United are very high”.
Meanwhile, Van Gaal seems intent on winning the Europa League.
When asked if United can win the Premier League, Fellaini said: “Yes, of course”.
“They need to use their tools to lift them up and we have a lot to fight for, I think”.
Keane continued (as he is wont to do): “I think managers get too much credit when things are going well and too much criticism when things aren’t going so well”.
Bastian Schweinsteiger will sit out the first of his three-match ban after being punished by the FA for his elbow on Winston Reid in the clash with West Ham United at Old Trafford last weekend.
“To be fair I didn’t want him to be suspended, because now I want Manchester United to win games!”
Bayern chief executive officer Karl-Heinz Rummenigge hit back at Van Gaal earlier this week and called for patience with Schweinsteiger’s form.
The United manager is already without Phil Jones, Ander Herrera, Marcos Rojo, Wayne Rooney and long-term absentees Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia.
“I work here and my players are working here, I have a board who works here, so you have to manage to ensure good results and that you are progressing. You have to judge”, Van Gaal said when questioned if he was still as good a manager as the former Dutch, Spanish and German title victor and Champions League victor once was. Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe is expecting a rampant United and said: “Manchester United are fourth and near the top of the league, for me there is no great panic at Manchester United”. We can’t say they’re on track.
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“I m sure at the end of the season they will be in the top four”.
