Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has no injury worries as he prepares for Tuesday’s Champions League play-off against Club Brugge, a tie he admits carries plenty of pressure.
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Van Gaal said: “I like a second striker in that position [behind Wayne Rooney] more than a third midfielder”.
Last season Van Gaal brought in Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett for their debuts and players will know that if they train well enough they will be given a chance.
“It was a fantastic goal by Januzaj“, Van Gaal said after the match. He (Stoichkov) is one of the players I sent away (from Barcelona) and that is why he is doing that.
When asked about the potential loan move, Januzaj told Sky Sports: “No, it was only rumours”.
“You have to survive the start. My answer is it’s a process, it’s a club, it’s a player, and we are there also.” he said, according to SkySports.
Despite the win, the Dutchman was displeased by United’s sloppy performance, as they conceded possession far too frequently and struggled to penetrate Villa’s rearguard, getting only three shots on target.
The aforementioned Villa attack failed to produce many chances in the whole 90 minutes, but there was a controversial decision when no penalty was awarded to Micah Richards, despite the centre-back being hauled down by Matteo Darmian from a corner kick.
“We have also Adnan Januzaj, Chicharito (Javier Hernandez) and (James) Wilson so I don’t think we have a lack of strikers”. “I want to stipulate that because “a lot of people (thinking he was underused)’ is not a good argument”.
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Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has criticised the club’s handling of David De Gea’s contract situation, accusing the Red Devils of “poor management”. We’ll be okay. I don’t take winning on Saturday out of proportion and I don’t think losing to Manchester United, with a couple of World Cup winners, is going to destroy my confidence either. Last year, we gave some things away in the games, but now you’ve seen how strong we are at the end – we kept a clean sheet and fought for everything.
