Van Gaal feels that Manchester United are now on course to achieve their aims for the season and has promised that he will give his all to help the side not just secure a top four spot, but also to lift the FA Cup.
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“It is not an easy opponent because they will defend, probably, and it is always hard”.
“It was more of a midfield role because of the way Crystal Palace played”.
Damien Delaney’s own goal and a fine Matteo Darmian strike did the damage against Palace, but United would have travelled to Wembley buoyed by a grand scoreline were it not for some poor finishing and goalkeeper Julian Speroni’s inspired display.
“Yes I was very happy with the performance and I think it was a four or five to zero game”.
The 18-year-old has been one of Man United’s biggest surprise packages this season, scoring seven goals in 13 appearances since making his first team debut in a Europa League tie against FC Midtjylland, in which he also scored.
United take on Everton in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday, which remains their only hope of picking up some silverware this term, and Van Gaal hopes last night’s win will be a platform for more success. “To concede after four minutes knocked us a little bit but our focus is slightly blurred as we have the semi-final on Sunday”, said Pardew.
West Ham and Liverpool both registered easy wins on Wednesday, the Hammers beating Watford 3-1 at Upton Park and Jurgen Klopp’s Reds comfortably seeing off 10-man Everton 4-0 in the Merseyside derby.
The former United player said: “The point at Arsenal was massive and reaching 39 points is big”.
“Selection (for the semi-final) is not so hard because you are following what you see, what your philosophy is, what the game plan is”.
“I share the drive the club has, which is getting into the Champions League and situations where we can win silverware”. I use them where I think they can give a higher contribution in a particular game.
“A lot of our guys might never get another chance to get to an FA Cup final”.
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United had dominated the first half, with Everton then mounting a comeback during which Toffees striker Romelu Lukaku had a 57th-minute penalty brilliantly saved by David de Gea.
