United have been savaged by their own fans and former Old Trafford stars including Paul Scholes for their lame play and the lack of goals under Van Gaal.
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While Van Gaal’s side avoided a replay thanks to Rooney’s late penalty, Scholes said the performance was unacceptable.
However, van Gaal is entitled to argue that results have improved since David Moyes’ brief spell at the club, and thus question why he would want to change a formula that has served the side quite well, regardless of how it looks.
“You have to be happy as a Manchester United fan that we are in next round and we have won the last two games”, he said.
“It’s always hard to play against such an opponent with 10 or 11 players behind the ball”, he said.
Former Manchester United striker Michael Owen has claimed manager Louis van Gaal’s defensive minded tactics are strangling the performances of the club’s attacking players.
“That is why they leave the stadium a few minutes early”, the Dutchman insisted.
“There are many reasons to leave a stadium before the last minute”. I’d never call for a manager to be sacked.
After the match, a less than complimentary video emerged on Twitter that showed what one United fan thought of his team’s showing… “Maybe (fans left) also because of the traffic”.
“When there is a chance to make the selection better then we shall do it, but I don’t think we shall do that”. “They can criticise, but they can also cheer the players”.
In the press conference ahead of the Newcastle game Van Gaal made his shocking comments.
“That they are ironic, I can imagine”. “Because it was our first shot after 20 minutes”.
Paul Scholes is not the only one who has been bored by United this season…even Louis van Gaal admits he’s felt the same!
“I believe in communication during the week, during the preparation and I believe in my players who have to perform.”
But he defended his philosophy and said: “I’m not Sir Alex [Ferguson], as you know”.
“We won this match and that’s the most important thing”.
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The midfielder sustained the problem towards the end of Saturday’s 1-0 Emirates FA Cup win over the Blades, though he gamely played on because the Reds had already used all three substitutes.
