The game was bereft of attacking quality and the only real chances fell to the hosts, substitute Jesse Lingard hit the bar late on and City keeper Joe Hart saved well from Chris Smalling.
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You got to be impressed by the knowledge base of the child Man United supporters, they really have insight and wisdom way beyond their years.
Van Gaal refused to discuss Rooney’s performance, however, telling his post-match press conference: “I have to talk every week about Rooney”.
Expressing his dissatisfaction van Gaal reportedly has told his players, “I’m disappointed, I have told my players that”. It is your opinion.
He also produced no key passes, touched the ball once in City’s 18-yard box and lost possession 28 times – more than any other player.
“But intelligent players adapt and there’s no doubting Rooney has a very good footballing brain”.
The English striker and Portuguese winger lit up the Premier League under former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and together helped the Red Devils lift three league titles, a League Cup and a Champions League trophy.
‘I think with two of the older players going in (Nemanja) Vidic and Rio (Ferdinand) there was a case where you needed someone to step up and I saw that as my opportunity to step up. “I am sick of them”, he added.
World Cup victor Xavi, who left Barca for Qatari outfit Al Sadd in the off-season, believes it is time for the 30-year-old to play a deeper role. Manchester City were totally satisfied with their result because they moved to the top of the table whereas Manchester United felt like they had a lot of things to work on.
United face Boro, now sitting fourth in the Championship, aiming to secure a place in the quarter-finals after defeating Ipswich in the previous round.
“Louis van Gaal will expect to win something this season”. British media quoted the United manager as saying.
“I think Middlesbrough is a good playing side”, Van Gaal said. “They are also disappointed, like me, because you have to win against these kind of teams, also for the fans, but the way we have played gives hope for the future”.
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“Try your luck that way”.
