“We have beaten Tottenham 1-0 (in August) and until the 70th minute (a week last Sunday) I think we were the better team”, he told the Manchester Evening News.
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Martial has scored a total of 15 goals for United in all competitions this season, but Van Gaal insists that he can still improve, and has denied suggestions that the Frenchman is a natural centre-forward.
The Red Devils needed a late Anthony Martial to progress after Chris Smalling’s own goal cancelled Marouane Fellaini’s opening goal.
The Spaniard suffered stoppage time heartbreak at Wembley when Anthony Martial slotted home to send Manchester United into the FA Cup final. But now the fans have seen a very exciting match.
The England worldwide was part of the squad that failed to beat Arsenal in the FA Cup final in 2004 and two years later, they were unsuccessful in getting past Chelsea in the final.
If true, it would mean that Van Gaal’s final game in charge would be an FA Cup final at Wembley against Crystal Palace or Watford, who play later today, after late drama yesterday.
Romelu Lukaku missed two great chances to level the scores in the first half when the Belgium worldwide had a shot cleared off the line by Wayne Rooney, while his second attempt from an acute angle was saved by David de Gea.
Despite his criticism towards the match official, Van Gaal was in full praise of Martial, whose goal secured United a place in the FA Cup final.
“It was unbelievable. We were in the game, out of the game, and then we were in the game”.
“We have showed spirit a lot of times already”.
Asked to sum up his emotions after the game, Carrick was naturally delighted to play his part in the dramatic win, but is determined not to get carried away by the result.
There had also been reports suggesting defeat would spell the end of his tenure.
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“More often than not he gets the beating of them and that’s great for us because you just want to feed players like that who are constantly that high on confidence all season”. When you are older you know all the things shall happen again.
