“I have never seen the dressing room quite so happy and relaxed”, Van Gaal said.
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“We are looking for consistent strikers, and there aren’t many around”.
I don’t think the midweek defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League will affect them adversely.
United’s latest prodigy Marcus Rashford rejected moves to Liverpool and Everton to sign for the Red Devils as a youngster.
Van Gaal was encouraged by Depay’s performance against Midtjylland and said Morgan Schneiderlin played his best game to date.
“You have to analyse the results of Manchester United”.
Prior to that, the hosts had been facing the possibility of a humiliating exit at the hands of their Danish opponents, who built upon their 2-1 lead from the first leg as Pione Sisto opened the scoring in the 27th minute.
Michael Carrick is enjoying his football rather than worrying whether he will still be a Manchester United player next season. “And still we are going and going and going so I have to give a great compliment to my players because it’s not easy to do that”.
With just two wins in their last six league games, fifth-placed United head into Sunday’s clash as slight underdogs according to bookmakers William Hill, despite Arsene Wenger’s side failing to win a league match at Old Trafford since 2006.
Young full-back Riley was also impressive in the game and van Gaal s mood was helped by the news that Martial s injury does not appear to be too serious.
The 18-year-old showcased his predatory instincts – becoming a fans’ favourite in the process – by netting twice in 12 second-half minutes at the Stretford End. “He stepped down himself and that I like very much”.
Nikolay Bodurov, on loan from Fulham, turned a Memphis Depay cross into his own goal shortly afterwards, but nerves grew as Morgan Schneiderlin hit the woodwork and then Juan Mata saw a penalty saved.
Midfielder, Ander Herrera and Depay decided the tie in the closing stages, with Midtjylland reduced to 10 men in the 89th minute following Andre Romer’s dismissal.
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Van Gaal was not surprised by Martial’s injury giving how many matches he has had to play this season saying “he can be exhausted because he is only 20 and he has played all the matches” which shows how important he has been, and he strikes fear into oppositions defenders when he plays with his pace.
