On Thursday, United have a must-win Europa League match against unheralded Danish side FC Midtjylland following their shock 2-1 last-32 first-leg defeat last week.
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“Everybody shall say it is easy against Shrewsbury Town and Manchester United has to win but we have seen very hard results in the FA Cup, not always the top team is winning, so I think we have done it fantastically”, Van Gaal said, according to the Guardian.
Van Gaal bizarrely called on his United players to be “horny” with desire to overturn their first-leg deficit and Thorup concedes they remain firm underdogs against the three-time champions of Europe.
The United boss also said his players must rise above any criticism they receive.
But former United midfielder Beckham, a key member of many of Ferguson’s victorious teams, told Britain’s Talksport radio on Tuesday: “He (Van Gaal) is an experienced manager with a great reputation in the game”.
“When I see the data of Midtjylland, they have always won against English opponents”.
Juan Mata and Manchester United were stunned at FC Midtjylland.
“I’m determined I’m not going to be any way critical of the players because we came up against some fantastic quality”.
Questions remain over the fitness of Chris Smalling after Monday’s FA Cup win at Shrewsbury, while star turn David de Gea will again be missing in goal.
Midtjylland travel to Old Trafford this evening to try and finish off the impossible job, as nobody gave them a chance of winning the tie – even though they beat Southampton in the Europa League qualifiers earlier this season. “No one knows better than myself how I played, if we have done good or bad”.
“The fans want us to play, to win and make them feel happy with trophies”.
Van Gaal acknowledged that he is uncertain whether the Spain -international will be ready for -tomorrow’s match at Old Trafford, but expects him to return in time for the Premier League home game against Arsenal on Sunday.
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‘So we have asked the referees, from that game, the Portuguese referees, and they said “no, it’s not offside, you can do that”.
