All the talk among United supporters – raised on a tradition of exciting, uninhibited attacking football – is of the team’s lack of goals under what they believe to be manager Louis van Gaal’s sterile conservative approach.
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The hosts managed just one shot on target throughout the 90, but had 63 per cent possession and Van Gaal feels his side created enough chances for the likes of Suarez and Aguero to put away.
“But I think when I meet the fans on the streets or wherever, they are very happy with Manchester united and with me, but you have to score”.
‘I watch the games, to see how the teams play, ‘ he added.
“Of course we have chances and we had the chances to win the match but we have to score”.
They now sit fourth in the table, three points off first placed Leicester City, though the Red Devils’ style of play under the Dutch manager has been uninspiring. All the teams of mine are playing like that.
“It’s a very important game for us at this moment because of the situation”. We created many chances and you can only do that when you are attacking; we attacked much more than our opponents, who were defending in their square of 40 metres.
Van Gaal’s team, without injured top scorer Wayne Rooney, were guilty of poor finishing against a West Ham side who arguably had the better chances to have won for the first time in five Premier League matches. When you are a big striker like (Cristiano) Ronaldo, (Lionel) Messi and Thomas Muller (it is) the same.
Wounded Wolfsburg insist they will use the pain of their last-minute German league defeat to beat Manchester United on Tuesday and book their place in the Champions League’s knock-out places.
“Their recent scoring record is a little bit of a surprise because they have great offensive players who know where the goal is”. James Wilson’s loan move to Brighton also has to be questioned and the fact he scored against Charlton while United drew 0-0 with West Ham rubs salt in the wound.
As United’s injury list continues to expand, and the fixture schedule enters a chaotic period over the Christmas and New Year, Van Gaal will be grateful of the youthful reserve available to him.
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Their fans are used to the kind of free-flowing attacking football served up under Alex Ferguson and Van Gaal’s post-match comments would have been received with scepticism. “I’ll have to wait and see”.
