Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal was delighted to move within touching distance of the Premier League’s top four after “fantastic” results for his team.
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But with United now level on points with fourth-placed Manchester City and preparing for FA Cup and Europa League ties against West Ham and Liverpool respectively, Van Gaal admitted that his injury-hit squad must somehow cope with the demanding workload ahead.
Van Gaal bristled when those comments were put to him at the press conference previewing Sunday’s trip to West Brom, although the United boss underlined his belief that quality is more important than experience.
Van Gaal has been accused by his detractors of promoting the idea that a top four finish and Champions League qualification should be hailed as a success for the club that has been used to winning trophies over the last two decades. We have a small selection [of players to pick from], so it’s hard and I can not rotate too much.
“We are on a good run while our rivals are having problems”.
“They are coming back, but they then have to be fit to play”.
“You see how [Marcos] Rojo is struggling, I had to give him 20 minutes, then 50 and today 70”.
“I gave compliments to my players because it is not so easy to win these games because Watford pressed us very high and we gave the ball away”. He’s known his family for a very long time and Marcus was coming through the ranks at United when I was playing in the first team and I would see him all of the time.
“We wanted to win, you have to win against Watford at home, I think, but it was a hard game because of the wind”.
“I think he’s a better full-back than a central defender”.
“And when you see the Watford players against ours, it is not in our favour”.
Rashford has given Louis van Gaal new life, even if its just two games.
“However, he had not played before against Odion Ighalo, who is a handful for a centre-half”.
Midfielder Ander Herrera agreed with his manager and believes that the young players have played a huge part in their upturn.
“We didn’t feel comfortable, but in the end we won and I am happy I scored a good goal”.
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“Mata can score these kind of goals”.
