“We’re disappointed. I think we could have done with getting an away goal – we know we’ve got a hard job at our hands”, Smalling told the club’s website (www.manutd.com). The atmosphere was unbelievable, really great, and I want to say thank you to everyone involved.
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Manchester United, who continue their quest for silverware in the FA Cup and Europa League, while trying to chase down a place in the Premier League’s top 4, are being spread a little thin as a result.
“How is Juan Mata captain?”
Louis van Gaal has claimed that his style is working at Manchester United because they are still competing on three fronts this season.
Klopp said he did think some of the official’s decisions were harsh but did not want to complain about his performance, although it did concern him of the impact going forward.
United were dumped out of the FA Cup at the last-eight stage to eventual winners Arsenal last term, but host a West Ham side on Sunday who have not won at Old Trafford in their last nine visits in all competitions. “It’s going to be tough because they are a good team with a good manager, but we could do it with our fans at home”.
The bookies have Liverpool favourites for the first leg, although United have come away victorious from Anfield on their last two visits, including a 1-0 win earlier this season.
United had lost only four times in their previous 14 trips to Anfield, so this was a huge for the new Jurgen Klopp regime.
Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino scored as Liverpool secured a two-goal advantage in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie. But if it is an insipid display, typified in the 1-0 home defeat by Southampton in January, you feel the Theatre of Dreams will turn on its own. “I’m sure United will be looking to respond”, Henderson said.
When asked whether the next week would determine his future, Van Gaal not only refused to engage, but went on to claim that, in his view, his United plan is bang on track.
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“We have to improve a lot to score goals though, we know”. To put that in context, in Ferguson’s final ten seasons in charge, spanning 380 Premier League games, it happened only 15 times, which was no doubt 15 too many for the Scot’s liking’.
