Ex-United players Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand, analysing the game for BT Sport, delivered stinging criticisms of their old team s display – the former branding it “shambolic” – and Van Gaal conceded his side had struggled with the Liverpool s intensity.
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“Despite this, Van Gaal was adamant the tie was not dead, urging United supporters to replicate the atmosphere Liverpool fans created and spur them into the last eight”.
Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino helped Liverpool F.C defeat Manchester United F.C 2-0 in the first leg of the Europa League clash.
“We have to play that match for the second time and then at home and then we create that atmosphere and then maybe we score some goals”.
Liverpool are now seventh in the Premier League table and six points adrift of the top four heading into the final 10 games of the campaign.
Last weekend’s 1-0 reverse at West Brom had already dented their Champions League chances as United dropped to sixth in the standings after being overtaken by West Ham, whom they face in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.
“I have seen we did not cope with the pressure, the high pressure of Liverpool”, Van Gaal told his post-match press conference after the first ever European meeting between England s two most successful clubs.
However Olympic bronze medallist Muhammad, who moved to Manchester from London in 2011 and regularly attends United’s home games, is hopeful that Van Gaal will remain in charge next year.
To go into the next leg with this much confidence is a sensational feeling, but also unusual at the same time.
“I think it is working because you have to see how we have to work”, Van Gaal said of his tutorship.
“It is only half-time so we have to make sure in the second half at Old Trafford we play like that again because it will be very hard”. We need to recover as soon as possible and then focus just on the FA Cup.
“The last thing I want for Manchester United is to be happy with finishing fourth and winning the FA Cup”.
“We were really good from the first second, everything was there but we could have scored more”, Klopp said. It is a very hard situation for everybody but we still have the chance and have to believe in that.
“It is Manchester United and although they are under pressure they are capable of playing better and they have always bounced back after a tough loss, so it will be a tough game”.
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“When you analyse what we have done this season and the other season I can not change your [the critics’] mind”.
