But fourth placed United are still only three points behind leaders Leicester and van Gaal believes they can salvage the campaign with a title challenge.
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Barclay said: “We talk about top four clubs now as if they’re in crisis, and it’s all caused by the fact Guardiola may be available at the end of the season”. I can say that in advance but nobody hears me because they don’t want to hear. Van Gaal will be looking for a better result than United’s drab 0-0 draw at home to West Ham, when they take on Bournemouth tonight. “I do not speak about the past, I don’t think that’s of any benefit for me or the players. But of course you see that there is a gap and you have to sniff that and we didn’t sniff that”.
Although Bournemouth have lost key players to injury like captain Tommy Elphick and striker Callum Wilson, Stanislas felt their heroics demonstrated why they were equipped for survival, despite their lack of resources compared to the league’s elite. “I’m having always that confidence when the players want to perform in this way, then I have confidence always”.
The Swans thought they had salvaged a point when Bafetimbi Gombis thundered in a goal in the 90th minute to cancel out Wilfried Bony’s first-half strike.
“You have to analyse the club as it is now”, said Van Gaal. The commitment is very high and that is the most important thing.
The 22-year-old winger limped off after 31 minutes at the Vitality Stadium with a suspected hamstring problem, and Van Gaal seems to be fearing the worst. “We shall do our job but it is more hard to prepare against Norwich when you have lost twice in a row”.
Norwegian worldwide King, who arrived from Blackburn on a free transfer in the summer, said: “I had five years at Manchester United”. You think it’s “just”?
“We have the selection to do that”, said the Dutchman when asked about his team’s prospects of ending the season as English champions, a target that became all the more important after United were eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday.
And the loss of forward Jesse Lingard midway through the first half only added to the manager’s concerns.
Van Gaal has faced criticism for Manchester United’s perceived “boring” style this season and has been the target of a fans’ backlash after the former EPL winners made an early exit from the Champions League.
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Van Gaal is now third favourite to face the axe after his side’s latest horror show, which came just a few days after they were dumped out of the Champions League. “I have to say that Cameron Borthwick-Jackson did very well”.
