“The attitude of the players I liked”, Van Gaal said, “but that is not the only important thing”.
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Reflecting on the defeat, the 64-year-old revealed that his players were very disappointed as they did everything possible to win the match against Bournemouth. “That’s not normal for us because we gave a lot of attention to all the organisation but they had a few variations and they did it very well, I have to say, but still it can’t be, I believe”.
It was a second stunning win in a week for Eddie Howe’s promoted Bournemouth following their 1-0 triumph at champions Chelsea last weekend and took them three points clear of the relegation zone.
And the loss of forward Jesse Lingard midway through the first half only added to the manager’s concerns.
Bournemouth had chances to extend its lead, with substitute Glenn Murray blazing over from 10 meters.
“There were emotional scenes afterwards”, said Howe.
Swansea, who sacked Garry Monk on Wednesday, looked to have earned a point when Bafetimbi Gomis scored a 90th-minute equaliser, only for Yaya Toure’s shot to hit team-mate Iheanacho and loop in two minutes later.
“I think we are now maybe fifth or still fourth, I think that we have the selection to do that (challenge for the title), but we are now in a very hard position”, said the Dutchman. “We need to get back to winning games”. We didn’t do that in the first half but we had the feeling in the players, the management and his staff that could win this game.
Former Swansea striker Wilfried Bony put City in front in the 26th minute at a rain-lashed Etihad Stadium by meeting Jesus Navas’s left-wing corner with a near-post header.
By then, United had equalized when Fellaini bundled the ball into the back of the net after Memphis Depay had been denied by Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc. “When the players want to perform in this way then I am always confident”.
“We know we could catch them cold and it came down to the bit of inexperience they had in their team, especially in the back four”.
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For United, the result ended a week to forget as a goalless draw at home to West Ham was followed up by Champions League elimination with defeat in Wolfsburg.
