“I thought in the first half we played well, we created chances, scored a goal and I had the feeling that we could win in the second half”, he said.
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Howe had special praise for midfielder Harry Arter, who played for 86 minutes just days after his partner lost a child at birth.
Bournemouth’s victory came on the back of last week’s win at Chelsea and manager Eddie Howe admitted the club’s season has been transformed.
“No, I don’t see myself managing Manchester United at all”, said Neville, speaking to Sky Sports.
“We tried until the end, we had chances, but then you need also some luck”. Since they have critically drawn against PSV Eindhoven and lost to Wolfsburg to shatter their Champions League ambitions and two Premier League draws against Leicester and West Ham plus the very bad defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday has undermined hopes of a strong title challenge.
“I think he’s handled himself with real dignity throughout the process, and to play the way he did today, with the emotions running through his body, I can’t credit him enough for that”.
“I think the attitude of the players, I like the attitude”, he said.
“While people maybe grieve in their own way, I found it easier to come in and play and try and do everyone proud”.
United’s injury woes meant van Gaal was forced to field a side with a young side but the Dutchman insisted that his side’s defeat wasn’t due to a growing injury list.
Asked if he retained confidence that he was the right man to take United forward, Van Gaal replied: “I have always confidence”.
Van Gaal may have tested the patience of United’s demanding fans in the week, suggesting the club, for all its pedigree and riches, can not automatically expect success, but he retains the advantage of having the thickest skin.
Fellaini equalised in the 24th minute, bundling the ball home at the second attempt after Memphis Depay had been thwarted by Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc.
Bournemouth showed how risky it is to underestimate the team by beating Chelsea last weekend, and posed a barely recognizable United defence – comprising Guillermo Varela, Paddy McNair, Daley Blind and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson – plenty of problems on the counterattack. That’s always important for us as players and that’s all we can focus on.
“You have to perform in a certain way”, he added. “It is matter of belief, if you believe in this manager or not”, he said.
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“It’s been a tough one to take, very disappointing week”. Now, it has just completed back-to-back wins over two of European football’s biggest teams.
