In van Gaal’s first test of a defining week, he must guide United past a very good West Ham United side, who sit two points in front of the red devils in the Premier League.
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“I can really celebrate and I can be really happy after this and say that it is the best and the greatest”.
“It is still possible. I can not say how many weeks, as you never know”, he told reporters.
“Thursday night is not a game that you can take as normal for Manchester United”, he said. It is a very hard situation for everybody but we still have the chance and have to believe in that.
“I don’t want to hide behind the injuries but we are still in three competitions, we can fight for a lot”, Van Gaal explained.
Van Gaal said: “We can discuss every decision of the referee, but I can only say we are very unlucky this season with the decisions of the referee”.
The second leg at Old Trafford takes place next Thursday, before which United take on West Ham in their FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday.
Daniel Sturridge converted a 20th-minute penalty before Roberto Firmino scored for the third game in succession after the break, with United indebted to goalkeeper David de Gea for preventing a rout in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
United will have to try and avert another crisis without Juan Mata, who captained the side against Liverpool but who serves a one-match ban following the first red card of his career in last weekend’s 1-0 Premier League defeat at West Bromwich Albion.
“You have to see how we have to work with the circumstances we have to work with”.
“Is it important what Rio Ferdinand is saying, is that important to you?” he responded when asked about Ferdinand’s statement. “It’s going to be tough because they are a good team with a good manager, but we could do it with our fans at home”.
To avoid that he needs to devise a game plan to counter Liverpool’s high-tempo pressing style which did for them at Anfield.
“We have to improve a lot to create more goals”.
Van Gaal praised Liverpool’s defence and added that United could not create much opportunity upfront. “For that, we have to play like this again in Manchester”.
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Manchester United will invite Slaven Bilic’s high-flying West Ham for a crunch tie at Old Trafford on Sunday.
