FC’s Craig Burley sounds off on Manchester United’s dismal performance in their 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth.
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Asked if he retained confidence that he was the right man to take United forward, Van Gaal replied: “I have always confidence”.
It was a different story for Bournemouth, however, with Junior Stanislas (7.75), Josh King (7.375) and Harry Arter (7.625) all impressing for triumphant hosts.
The game ended 2-1 to Bournemouth in a spirited performance from the promoted side with United producing a very ordinary performance once again under Van Gaal, which will surely lead to more questions about the manager’s future at the club.
Bournemouth’s maiden Premier League campaign has been quite a baptism of fire for Eddie Howe’s hardworking side.
Watford moved up to seventh place, four points below the Champions League spots, after Odion Ighalo’s 10th goal of the campaign secured a 1-0 win at Sunderland, while West Ham United drew 0-0 at home to Stoke City.
“I said before the game that one reason I wanted to play was to dedicate the game to everyone associated with my family – my family that are here and not here. I just try to do my best every week for Bournemouth, [but] getting a goal against your old club means a lot”.
A defiant Van Gaal also claimed he would not need to alter his long-term managerial strategies to guide United back to former glories. “Only it is now also more hard for my players to do that”.
“I’m really proud of him, but the pain for them won’t go away, so we’ll have to look after Harry, and our thoughts are with him and his family at this time”.
The setback at Bournemouth completes a miserable week for United.
“I think that we have the selection to [win the league], but we are now in a very hard position”, said Van Gaal. Everyone is contributing. The big thing was the way we played without the ball, the work ethic versus Manchester United and Chelsea is crucial because you know you won’t have much of the ball. They have done everything, but they have lost. “We were a bit unlucky at the start of the season”. They had a few variations and did it very well but still it can not be.
He then revealed why he had decided he would rather play in the match after such a trying week.
“The players had done everything but Bournemouth pressed on the ball in a fantastic way which made it hard to get the equaliser or create chances”.
Substitute Glenn Murray, who scored a late victor at Chelsea, twice squandered chances to give Bournemouth breathing space, blazing over from close range on each occasion, but in the end it mattered not. I don’t think it is of any benefit for me and the players.
“The attitude of the players I liked but that is not the only important thing. I was pleased with what I saw in the first half”.
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With injuries forcing Van Gaal to field a defence featuring Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, 18, Paddy McNair and Guillermo Varela, United fell behind inside two minutes when Stanislas’s wind-assisted corner curled straight in. “I don’t think it is because of that [injuries] we lost”.
