“I do not see it every week, but I see that we are better as a team and a selection”. It is a dismal record, one which confirms their status as favourites for one of the three slots for relegation to the Championship. He’s got the pace and stretches opposition sides and in a Van Gaal team that does play a bit sideways, he [Van Gaal] needs that fast, creative player who stretches the opposition.
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United took four of the six points from the two matches last season, with Rooney’s brace accounting for their 2-0 home victory.
Louis van Gaal says it is not important who scores for Manchester United after watching Wayne Rooney end his goal drought as the Red Devils beat Sunderland 3-0 at Old Trafford. “But I was very pleased with the third goal because it was a reflection of the game“.
“I am very happy with him“.
Sunderland produced a more solid defensive display in the first half against Premier League leaders Manchester United, yet fell behind just 40 seconds before the interval, and then conceded again just 40 seconds after the break.
And Van Gaal, ahead of Wednesday’s encounter with Wolfsburg, said: “The Premier League is a very hard league”.
“I am proud, of course”, the United manager said.
United struggled to create chances in the opening 45 minutes against Sunderland until Memphis Depay gifted them the lead on the verge of half-time and Rooney was quick to underline the importance of the winger’s strike.
Alexis Sanchez became the first player to score a hat-trick in the EPL, La Liga in Spain and Italy’s Serie A.
“Yes, not only for the Champions League but to maintain our top position in the league because we have to play Arsenal away, it’s the most hard game but a year ago we won there so we have hope”, the Dutch manager explained.
United applied plenty of early pressure at Old Trafford, but only found a way through in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time.
Whenever he was in possession in a risky area, panic spread through Sunderland’s players, who resorted to crude measures to thwart him. We have to think about the way we are playing to find a way to be more successful’.
Dick Advocaat’s side are yet to win in seven matches, but Fletcher insists Sunderland’s resolve remains strong.
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Jones too came off the bench to make only his second appearance since a blood clot was discovered in his leg shortly after he returned from the pre-season tour of the United States.
