United were dumped out of the Champions League in the group stages in midweek and suffered a major setback in the Premier League when they were beaten 2-1 by Bournemouth.
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Ferdinand, who won six Premier League titles and the Champions League in his 12-year spell at United, believes Van Gaal’s team are playing with fear as they are stifled by the 64-year-old’s tactics. We can do that, but we have to keep fighting.
It is very disappointing because, in spite of the early goal, we came on very well in the match, scored an equaliser and we created more chances to score a second goal.
Louis van Gaal has provided more information on the injuries sustained by Paddy McNair and Jesse Lingard in Manchester United’s defeat to Bournemouth.
“What sold it to me was the way they played football and manager David O’Leary’s vision for the club”.
“Of course I’m concerned because we have lost two matches in a row, and that is not a usual thing, so we have to stick together and prepare our match against Norwich”. “But it is a matter of belief, if you believe in this manager or not, because that is the most important thing”.
Nick Powell, who was brought on for United’s best performing player against Wolfsburg, Juan Mata, was Van Gaal’s preferred player again at Bournemouth.
Michael Carrick captained the side and knows they now need to respond and get back in the title picture, starting with victory over Norwich on Saturday.
“The support of everyone at the club is why I felt like I wanted to play as well”.
Now the ambition is survival and Howe feels consecutive wins against two of the most successful teams in the history of the Premier League can go a long way to making their current aims achievable.
The England global, who captained the side in the absence of Wayne Rooney, says those injuries are no excuse and that the players are very disappointed about the last week.
Yaya Toure’s shot in the second minute of injury time struck young substitute Kelechi Iheanacho and looped into the net as City escaped with a win from an unconvincing display against Swansea at Etihad Stadium.
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“It was really important for us that we didn’t lose the momentum we had built and that one result (against Chelsea) wasn’t a result in isolation. I just try to do my best every week for Bournemouth, [but] getting a goal against your old club means a lot”.
