“That is happening now, and I can not close my eyes to that”, Van Gaal said after the game.
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Cameron Jerome put Norwich in front before halftime and when Alex Tettey made it 2-0 the atmosphere inside Old Trafford was mutinous.
“That can be done when you are sticking together, not only the players, manager and staff, but also the fans, because that is very important”.
“I can only say that what you have seen today is what a lack of confidence can do”.
Van Gaal, who took United back into the Champions League this season after a fourth-placed Premier League finish in his first campaign in charge, has been criticised for his style of play by fans used to the kind of swashbuckling football served up for the past two decades.
“I’m just really pleased for the players, mainly because a lot of questions have been posed of myself and them”, he explained to Norwich City TV after the final whistle. “This is why I am, or maybe I now have to say was, a very successful manager”.
Asked if he feared for his position, van Gaal said: “Yes of course I am anxious about that because I know that belief in a manager is very important”. We had to be in the game after 30 minutes and then we can hurt them on the counter.
“Yes I think so but I never know, in this world, you never know”.
“I thought the players’ work ethic was incredible”.
Speaking about the heavy winter schedule, the Spaniard added,”It’s Christmas time, a crucial time, so we have to do it. We have to try to be positive”.
“I’m sure at Manchester United, the likes of Ed Woodward (chief executive) and plenty of supporters would love to have him as well, although I’m not convinced Sir Bobby Charlton would”, Collymore wrote in The People.
“The best way to answer that is to go and win games”.
Rio Ferdinand endured a miserable night, while Gary Lineker could not contain his glee at the thought of Mourinho at Old Trafford.
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Manchester United return to Premier League action on Boxing Day with a trip to Stoke City, before they host Chelsea at Old Trafford two days later.
