A Champions League win over CSKA Moscow in midweek helped propel the Red Devils to top spot in Group B, albeit by the slenderest of winning margins, while just four points stands between themselves and the Premier League summit.
Advertisement
“Goals are always the most important thing in a game but we’re still not giving many chances away, only Berahino’s header”, he continued.
Only three times in the first half did United manage to gain a clear sight of the visitors’ goal, but from the first Mata was unable to curl the ball inside the far post after being played in by Rooney. “That’s why you look for solutions and one of those was to bring Jesse into the team”.
“But he is an intelligent footballer and he will carry out the role he is asked to do, which I think the manager there will quite like”.
Jesse Lingard opened the scoring early in the second half in another largely tedious performance from the hosts, before Juan Mata sealed the win with a late penalty, which saw Gareth McAuley sent off.
Lingard’s firmly part of Van Gaal’s plans at the moment.
“I said to a few of the other young boys they could go on loan at the start of the season, but I said to him: ‘you have to stay!'”, Van Gaal said.
It is good we have won because the next manager shall not choose so easily this strategy.
“So we have to wait and see but I am very happy with his contribution up until now”.
‘We met him past year and I had the feeling he’d be up for the craic – he’s very warm, very affable and he speaks to everyone, ‘ Doyle told the Irish Independent. Manchester United desperately need a Premier League goal to silence the doubters – so a home tie against a Tony Pulis-led West Brom who are infamous for keeping clean sheets is not what the doctor ordered.
Blind feels that, if United are to be successful this season, the team will need to come to terms with the defensive tactics of many visiting sides to Old Trafford.
Advertisement
According to what Chris Smalling had to say ahead of today’s match, he and his teammates are not underestimating West Brom.
