“All the media has written for one year that I have to put him in the striker’s position so it is very unbelievable that after two matches you already are doubting your own opinion”.
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Manchester United obviously have an absolute gem on their hands in Memphis Depay, after he scored a first-half brace of wondergoals versus Club Brugge in Champions League qualifying.
Van Gaal looks set to stick by captain Wayne Rooney despite his indifferent form in the club’s opening two games.
Louis van Gaal rightly preached patience for a young player still adapting to a new style of play in English football, but against Belgian opposition in the Champions League play-off round first leg, Memphis got his United account off to a flying start.
Not satisfied with two goals, Depay quickly went in search of his hat-trick after the restart and was denied a third by a fine Bruzzese save after a marauding run.
“I’m happy to play and give everything for the manager and the club”.
Van Gaal will still be without the services of David de Gea, who will not be considered for the first team until after the transfer deadline, while Phil Jones is suffering from a minor thrombosis and is unavailable.
Having explained his call-up against Villa, Januzaj will hope to keep his place in the starting line-up.
“There is a lot of pressure because our aim and goal is to reach the Champions League”.
If the Red Devils can defeat the Belgian side at Old Trafford tonight, and at next week’s second leg, a return to the Champions League’s group stages will be all but secured.
United slipped to a shock goal in the eighth minute as a Victor Vazquez free kick was deflected past goalkeeper Sergio Romero by Michael Carrick.
“We have to show our quality against a good team”.
Finally United got their third goal, though, as Fellaini rose at the back post to head home a deep cross from the left, giving Van Gaal’s side breathing space heading into the second leg.
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“We are playing with confidence and we can be unsafe tomorrow (Tuesday)”. The club’s top scorers in both domestic and European competition last season, Jose Izquierdo and Lior Refaelov, are sidelined, along with first-teamers Felipe Gedoz, Thomas Meunier, Bernie Ibini-Isei, Nicolas Castillo and Bjorn Engels.
