Manchester United missed the chance to steal a march on the Premier League’s top four when an own goal by keeper David De Gea cost them a 2-1 defeat at Premier League strugglers Sunderland on Saturday.
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United’s top four hopes this season: “It shall be very hard now [to finish in the top four] because we give five points away, against Chelsea and here now so it’s too much at this time”.
United dominated the final stages of the first half, but other than that they were matched or outplayed by Sunderland, who could have scored more.
United’s defeat kept them six points below the Premier League top four, jeopardising their chances of qualifying for the Champions League.
“It shall be very hard now. I can cope with that because for most of the matches we are the better team”.
Martial equalized for United in the 39th after recent signing Wahbi Khazri put Sunderland ahead in the third minute.
Despite his reservations over Mourinho’s arrival at United, Owen is convinced Van Gaal should be replaced as the club’s manager, after admitting the Dutchman has failed in his two seasons at the club.
“You have to win these kind of games and we didn’t win”, Van Gaal said.
“I have to say that we are doing great in that perspective, ” Van Gaal said when asked about the mood in the camp.
“They played directly, then won the second balls and played with more aggression than us”.
Winning the Europa League is now Manchester United’s “easiest route” into next season’s Champions League, according to manager Louis van Gaal.
“It’s pleasing that the squad showed me it’s good enough and united enough for the big push to try to get out of the trouble we’re in”. It is a dislocation [of his shoulder] so he has several weeks out.
West Bromwich Albion produced a dogged defensive performance after grabbing an early goal to snatch a 1-0 win at Everton.
“I don’t think Man United are any further forward now to what they were when he [Van Gaal] took over”, the 45-year-old told Match of the Day.
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Allrdyce added: “We’ve got a lot of injuries and we’ve got another one with Kirchhoff going off after 20 minutes or so”.
