Louis van Gaal

Van Gaal thrilled with ‘fantastic goals’ Against Stoke

Published

11 years ago

February 3, 2016

Godwin

The Dutchman admitted he was very happy after watching his side defeat Mark Hughes’ men at Old Trafford

Louis van Gaal expressed his delight with Manchester United’s build-up play after they cruised to a 3-0 Premier League win over Stoke City on Tuesday.

United scored in the opening 45 minutes of a game at Old Trafford for the first time since September as Jesse Lingard broke the deadlock in the 14th minute with a diving header from Cameron Borthwick-Jackson’s cross.

Anthony Martial rounded off an excellent team move involving Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney with a superb curling finish nine minutes later.

Mata and Martial were at the centre of things again as Rooney made sure of the points in the 53rd minute with his 99th Premier League goal at Old Trafford as United at least temporarily silenced the critics who have piled pressure on Van Gaal.

The Dutchman told Sky Sports: “It was a great performance. First half we create attacks, fantastic goals, we created more chances. In the second half we controlled the game.
“I think in 2016 we have only lost against Southampton in the last minute in a game that nobody has to be the winner.

“We have more confidence maybe. At home you have to win but I hope it gives us a lot of motivation to continue. In Derby County [in the FA Cup last Friday] we played very well also like this evening.
“Great goals, from the building up to the end of the goal. Superb goals, I’m very happy because you can see the team is scoring the goal not only the player.”

Asked about the impact of the likes of Lingard and Borthwick-Jackson, Van Gaal added: “I’m always pleased when youngsters are showing themselves.

“Today is also Cameron Borthwick-Jackson’s birthday and he gets a fantastic assist. I’m very happy for him.”

Jose Mourinho

‘This one’s for Louis Van Gaal’- Jose Mourinho dedicates Man U’s Community Shield win to former manager

Published

10 years ago

August 8, 2016

Godwin

Jose Mourinho after guiding Man U to a 2-1 win over Leicester City in the community shield on Sunday has dedicated the trophy to former Man U coach Louis Van Gaal. Louis Van Gaal was sacked at the end of last season despite leading the team to win the FA cup title, and Mourinho, his friend who replaced the Dutchman after overseeing his new side’s 2-1 win over Leicester City at Wembley decided to dedicate the win to his former Barcelona colleague as well as seven first-team players left out the match squad.

“I want to dedicate this victory to eight people, Mourinho told BT Sport.

‘Seven of my players that were not selected because they weren’t but they deserved to be. They worked hard to be but I had to make changes so people like Ashley Young, [Phil] Jones, all of them not selected, this is to them.

‘And also for the person which allowed us to be here today which is Louis van Gaal because he won the FA Cup and without him we wouldn’t be here now celebrating.’ Mourinho also claimed the world record £100million arrival of Paul Pogba from Juventus is close to being completed.

‘I think so, finally,’ Mourinho added. ‘It’s amazing such a good player is with us and finally we have him and he comes to a winning side – a side that won the last two matches in the cup final and the Community Shield. So he has to work hard to come to the team.’

Anthony Martial

Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal Admits he May Not see Best of Anthony Martial after Frenchman nets in Win

Published

11 years ago

February 3, 2016

Godwin

>>Manchester United stars impressed in 3-0 Stoke at Old Trafford
>>Anthony Martial, Wayne Rooney and Jesse Lingard all scored for hosts
>>Louis van Gaal hailed his side but insisted no star’s spot in team is safe

Louis van Gaal hailed ‘super’ Manchester United before warning his stars nobody is safe, United finally scored a first-half home Premier League goal – their first for 12 matches – when Jesse Lingard headed in the opener against an off-colour Stoke City last night. Anthony Martial and then Wayne Rooney after the break capped off a much-improved evening.

Anthony Martial scored a curled effort to double Manchester United’s lead against Stoke on Tuesday evening.

The Frenchman shakes hands with boss Louis van Gaal after being substituted following his stunning strike.

Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring Manchester United’s third goal as the ball nestles on Jack Butland’s back.

Martial finished a stunning team goal reminiscent of past United teams in the 23rd minute and Van Gaal cannot believe the consistency of his performances.

‘It is very much surprising,’ the United manager said. ‘You come from the French league, come to the Premier League and you do this at 20 then you have a lot of potential to give but then I am the manager not any more at that time when he is at his best.’

Martial again operated wide for Van Gaal, who will continue to play the Frenchman on the wing.

‘That [starting centrally] is dependent on the shape of the team, his fellow players,’ he added. ‘He likes to play in a striker’s position more than where he is now playing but when I need him to play on the other side. When he plays like this I am not changing. Same as Rooney, same as Mata. I am not changing.

‘They were team goals and team goals I love the most – superb, superb. I’m also happy with individual goals but these were a team. The finishing was also very good.’

But Van Gaal wants the intensity to continue and insisted no player’s spot is secure – serving a reminder that he dropped Rooney for this fixture at the Britannia Stadium on Boxing Day.

Van Gaal hailed the ‘superb’ display against Stoke but reminded players no starting spot is secure.

Rooney now has seven goals in as many games, edging closer to Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time record.

Asked if Rooney could break that this season Van Gaal said: ‘I hope for him and that is good for me, because when he scores we win.

‘Everybody has forgotten he was substitute against Stoke away. Everybody is the same with me. You have to prove it to me in every training session. When he plays like this I cannot say to him “go to the bench”.’

Mark Hughes bemoaned Stoke’s defending: ‘We were very passive early on and it allowed United opportunities. We made mistakes.’