Van Gaal defends methods after defeat
Print Edition
MANCHESTER United manager Louis van Gaal was forced to defend both his tactics and squad management following a disjointed 0-1 home defeat by Southampton in the English Premier League.
Substitute Dusan Tadic’s 69th-minute goal earned Southampton a first victory at Old Trafford since January 1988, which allowed Ronald Koeman’s side to climb above United to third place in the table.
Koeman suggested that United was having trouble adapting to Van Gaal’s preference for a three-man defence, opining that “they have difficulties to build up with three center-backs.”
But Van Gaal, whose side has taken six points from a possible 15, rejected the claim and argued that Southampton had been “lucky” to avenge its 1-2 loss to United in December.
Asked if United had struggled to bring the ball out of defence, he replied: “I don’t think so, because we were the dominating team. You have seen that today (Sunday). That for me is not any question.”
Van Gaal also had to explain his decision to omit Radamel Falcao from his 18-man squad, having selected 19-year-old striker James Wilson ahead of the Colombia international.
With Luke Shaw, Daley Blind and Angel di Maria playing after injury, Van Gaal said he needed defensive and midfield cover on the bench and had plumped for Wilson over Falcao “because I know I want speed in attack.”
In the end, Van Gaal threw Marouane Fellaini on as an auxiliary striker, but Juan Mata squandered late chances to equalize when he failed to convert a pair of excellent opportunities created by Blind.
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