Manchester United’s Adnan Januzaj is brought down by Aston Villa’s Micah Richards during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester United at Villa Park, Birmingham, England, Friday, August 14, 2015.
Advertisement
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has shrugged off criticism of Wayne Rooney’s form and said he can not understand suggestions his captain should be moved from the main striking role.
“I’m very pleased because you can not get more points than six”, he added.
“We were really good in the shape, really compact and I think it was a really good team performance”, he said.
“I think we have played better than last week, and it was an away match”, United manager Louis van Gaal told broadcaster SkySports.
On what was otherwise a relatively quiet day for Mata, he provided a nice ball to Adnan Januzaj in the 29th minute, who did plenty on his own to score the only goal of Friday’s match.
Villa opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth last Saturday with substitute forward Rudy Gestede making a flawless debut for the club, heading the game-sealing goal late in the second half.
However, Van Gaal, who feels he was pressured to pick Rooney as a central attacker, says he still has his backing.
“Memphis (Depay) could have scored easily, for example”.
“I thought we nullified them but didn’t carry a threat ourselves which is a bit disappointing”, he said. “I hope to have more games in my legs and score more goals”.
“I’ve said from the beginning that the defence is an effort of the whole team”.
Van Gaal added: “I am pleased with the goal, it was a wonderful goal Adnan scored”. We kept the ball better and scored the goal.
Advertisement
Speaking after the game Januzaj responded to transfer talk by telling Sky Sports: “It was only rumours, I’m happy here and of course I’m going to fight for my place”. “They try to take instruction on, it’s not always flawless but they will improve”.
