Manchester United top the Premier League table this Saturday lunchtime after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Watford at Vicarage Road. They don’t get the service.
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“Of course we are fighting for the first position in the Premier League”, he said.
It meant a first league start for Depay since United’s 3-0 defeat to Arsenal on October 4 while youngsters Marcus Rashford and Sean Goss were named on the bench.
United manager van Gaal did not include any out and out forwards in his line-up, with Wayne Rooney absent through illness.
The forced change only really looked to benefit Watford, who grew into the game and were on the front foot for the majority of the second half. However, the forward saw his shot parried behind.
It looked as though Watford wouldn’t be able to grab an equaliser, but a poor decision from Rojo gave Deeney the opportunity to do so from the spot kick.
Dutch striker van Nistelrooy’s streak was spread over two seasons, starting against Fulham on March 22, 2003 and ending against Newcastle on August 23, 2003, with eight goals coming in the 2002/03 campaign and two in 2003/04.
Deeney drove another powerful strike straight down the throat of De Gea, while Lingard failed to chip Gomes with a late opportunity.
While the Red Devils ultimately won the match, they left it late, and were nearly punished when Marcos Rojo-the would-be stand-in for Shaw-came on as a substitute only to give away a penalty.
Bastian Schweinsteiger’s shot across the face of the Watford goal was turned into the net by Deeney as he slid in to make a block. They can hardly afford any more attacking absentees.
“Not so long, it’s a matter of time, ” Van Gaal said when asked how long Martial would be out for.
“We started well, we made it easy to score”, Depay told BT Sport. “It was a little bit hard, but I’m fine”. In football you always have to believe. We are playing at home though, and I think everything is possible for us. “There was a bit of luck but we are happy to get the three points”, the Germany midfielder added. His pressing without the ball was good too, as Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores noted afterwards. We are every week closer, but where you are at the end is more important.
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Herrera would play limp out of the game minutes later, but his side were lucky to stay ahead when Ashley Young lost possession to Troy Deeney before Odion Ighalo chose to shoot rather than cross and ultimately see his effort drift wide. Okay, we might only be top for one hour [before the other fixtures] but we are there for the second time this season.
