Rooney missed the Watford tie due to illness, while Martial picked up an injury while on global duty with France.
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It remains to be seen how Van Gaal will resolve all these.
He told BT Sport, (via Espn FC), “I was amazed by the spirit in our team”. Jones and Herrera are not available for Wednesday.
“Of course we are fighting for the first position in the league”.
“Jones has a twisted ankle and Herrera maybe a hamstring injury”. He is at home. We didn’t give more than three chances away, one in the first half and two in the second.
On 11 minutes, Herrera whipped in a cross from the right and Depay connected with a first-time left-footed volley into the top corner.
Manchester United secured a dramatic victory over Watford, with their makeshift front two impressing Louis van Gaal.
Players from both teams stood together in the center circle as the French national anthem was played before kickoff at Vicarage Road, in honor of the victims of the Paris attacks last week that killed 130 people.
The Hornets were under the cosh again soon after the restart as the lively Jesse Lingard saw his shot palmed wide by Gomes and it was not until the hour mark that Quique Sanchez Flores’ side began to enjoy their first spell of pressure. Memphis finished it very well. He didn’t have the match rhythm so I can understand that.
“I think he played a very good match, like Jesse Lingard”.
Van Gaal, however, was still not fully impressed by his team’s offensive play and believes they should be more clinical when they are in possession of the ball. Luciano Narsingh’s second-half goal sealed a 2-1 win for the Eredvisie outfit.
Bastian Schweinsteiger’s low cross was diverted into his own net by Watford striker Troy Deeney, who had brought his side level at 1-1 from the penalty spot minutes earlier.
“When we played at Old Trafford after 10 minutes we were 2-0 down and I will never forget those 10 minutes because they played so unbelievably well”, Schweinsteiger said.
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“We are in a lousy period with a lot of injuries. I was happy. I like it when the fans are behind us and it was a nice moment [to celebrate with them]”.
