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United injury woes put Van Gaal in fix
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UNDER mounting pressure following Manchester United’s early Champions League exit, Louis van Gaal says it must adjust its lofty expectations because its status as a European superpower isn’t the same as 10 years ago.
Van Gaal appeared irritated yesterday when asked if United would be happy to just win the much-maligned Europa League this season, after dropping out of the Champions League.
“Just? You think it’s ‘just?’ I’m not thinking like that,” he said sharply.
“We are now in the Europa League, so now we have to win the Europa League. That’s not easy. I can say that in advance, but nobody hears me. They don’t want to hear me, because a club like United has to win. That’s the past. You have to analyze the club now, and not compare it with 10 years ago. There is an evolution in football, in European football.”
In Van Gaal’s 18-month tenure, United has spent US$375 million in rebuilding the squad, and the Dutchman has been widely criticized for his team’s defensive style. United is fourth in the Premier League, three points off the lead, but has struggled for goals.
“The problem is that we have to meet with the expectations, and the expectations at a club like Manchester United are very high,” Van Gaal said.
United’s injury problems have intensified, with the team missing nine players — including six senior defenders — for the Premier League match against Bournemouth today.
Chris Smalling and Matteo Darmian joined an injury list that includes fellow defenders Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia, and Phil Jones.
With Wayne Rooney and Ander Herrera also injured, Van Gaal will field a patched-up team at Bournemouth as United looks to rebound from a loss to Wolfsburg on Tuesday that eliminated the team from the Champions League.
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