Louis van Gaal’s taken plenty of shots at the media during his controversial tenure at the helm of Manchester United, but this time, one media member is firing back. The difference between Liverpool and Manchester United and the rest of the league was bigger than now.
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This season, in spite of topping the table in September, the Red Devils have dropped down to sixth after a bad run of form that saw them win just once in their last eight league games.
Liverpool have conceded seven goals in their last four games, while United striker Wayne Rooney has ended a lean spell with four goals in three matches.
“You can see his hand and that is very important when he is the manager”.
“The club is too big, too good and organised [for such a run]”, Van Gaal told reporters. “It’s better to be first, I agree with that, but we are still, in the two years I have been here, in transition, and that’s maybe also the reason”.
The concession of a last-minute equaliser tempered enthusiasm over another flawed performance, however, and it was only because of Tottenham’s defeat at home by Leicester that United’s top-four hopes were not badly dented by Paul Dummett’s late intervention.
Van Gaal’s side will face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday as the Merseyside giants face the prospect of going 26 years without winning the league if they do not capture Premier League silverware this term. I don’t know. I think it was positive because we had a good time together.
“I think I was more disappointed than the fans, I noticed that. Last season for example, Gerrard is on and sent off within 30 seconds”, he remarked.
There was a suggestion that Real Madrid would come back for De Gea next summer and finally get their man, but with FIFA banning the club from registering new players for the next two transfer window, it looks increasingly likely that the Spaniard’s immediate future lies at Old Trafford.
“We need to be aggressive but also under control”.
Klopp admits he needs to be entertained by football but accepts his Manchester United counterpart Louis van Gaal has a different idea.
Van Gaal is conscious of the boost a victory over Liverpool would provide. Usually, rough tackling and strong play dominates the game, and emotions are high for the full 90 minutes. I think we are all on the way and we are trying to improve.
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Meanwhile Klopp recalled a memorable meeting he had a few years ago with Ferguson – who last month said the former Borussia Dortmund manager’s arrival at Anfield anxious him as it could mean that Liverpool would resume the dominance over United they enjoyed in the 1970s and 1980s.
