They wanted to win. And with other senior members failing to chop in, Van Gaal is now concerned by his sides lack of goals.
Advertisement
On a day when Old Trafford paid tribute to the late George Best on the 10th anniversary of the great winger’s death, how United fans wished they had a player to produce similar wizardry or excitement in the current team.
“It’s a learning curve for us, but we can’t keep on saying it’s a learning curve”.
The storm clouds seem to be turning darker and darker over Louis van Gaal’s head as each dreary, lacklustre, monotonous performance passes.
“We have created in one half three open chances and there hard chances”.
“It was so close but we still didn’t score”.
“Of course I am anxious (about the scoring rate) but I know also that goals are coming and going – it is not a effect of good or bad performances”. “I thought that with this line-up we had the best chance to win and you shall not know if with Mata in the beginning it would be different”. “In the first half it was average but in the second, despite my changes [the introduction of Juan Mata, Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini] it did not improve”.
Third-placed PSV are a point behind United and host already eliminated CSKA Moscow in their final match, while the Dutch champions have a superior head-to-head record against Van Gaal’s side having beaten them 2-1 at the Philips Stadion in September.
“We’re disappointed we didn’t win this game”, said Rooney.
United would have qualified with a win, but will now face the tougher task of claiming their place in the knockout round in their final match at VfL Wolfsburg on December 8.
Speaking on BT Sports, the former England global said he does not believe Manchester United has a lethal forward to win matches when it matter the most.
Advertisement
Within four minutes of kick-off in the second half United had threatened three times – Schneiderlin and Lingard heading off-target, Depay shooting meekly at Zoet – but still a goal eluded them. “It always is. But we have to believe in ourselves and have the confidence that we can do that”.
