Louis van Gaal’s side have secured successive clean sheets despite calls for the United manager to sign a world-class defender in the summer transfer window.
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United now move on to the first leg of their Champions League clash with Club Brugge, and the Spaniard says everybody is excited about the competition.
“There’s a lot of pressure because our aim and goal is to reach the Champions League group stage”. We want to win on Tuesday and not concede.
Valencia, who have spent more than 100 million euros on transfers in the close season, host last season’s quarter-finalists Monaco on Wednesday as they attempt to return to the group stage after a two-season absence.
United started the 2015/16 campaign on a positive note with a 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, followed by a similar result when they took on Aston Villa in the last match.
Januzaj is one of two Belgian players in Van Gaal’s squad alongside Marouane Fellaini, who is serving a three-match domestic suspension but could feature on Tuesday.
United missed out on Europe for the first time in 19 years after a disappointing seventh-placed finish in the 2013-14 Premier League season. They can attack also, so it shall be a hard match.
Club Brugge defeated Panathinaikos in the previous round to advance.
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United have never lost a UEFA Champions League or European Cup qualifying tie; their sole defeat in 16 qualifying games in the competitions was a 1-0 reverse at Zalaegerszeg in the 2002/03 third qualifying round. Despite United’s vast experience in the Champions League, there’s a chance of this anxiety leading to a stagnant display, which is a risky prospect against a side that will have nothing to lose upon their visit to the Theatre of Dreams. However, for the moment he prefers points over performance.
