Louis van Gaal

Van Gaal: We're working on scoring & style

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has acknowledged his players must improve their scoring form following a run of three consecutive goalless draws in all competitions.
The Reds have recorded stalemates against Manchester City, Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace in the last fortnight, and such a sequence is an obvious cause for concern ahead of the important UEFA Champions League match with CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford.
Group B is currently wide open as both of Tuesday night’s teams have four points from three matches played, with the exact same number of goals scored and conceded. As such, a win for United would be a huge step towards qualification to the all-important knockout stages.
During his pre-match press conference on Monday afternoon, van Gaal was repeatedly asked about his team's lack of goals and style of play. In reply, he spoke optimistically about finding the net against the Russian champions and told reporters that "we - the players, the manager and the staff" are working hard to play the kind of attractive football that both he and the club are renowned for.
"We try to do that but I think the rhythm of the game in the Premier League is more difficult to develop that," said the manager. "You can see it every week and not only with Manchester United, with the other teams. Anybody can win or lose to each other. Maybe it is more difficult in the Premier League, I don't know, but we are trying to do that.
"We are hopefully making history but it takes time," he added. "But I have said that before so I cannot repeat myself, otherwise it shall be [headlines of] ‘Van Gaal asks for time again!’
"Until now there is always progress, it’s always progress. I can remind you [the media] of the fact that you were saying, “Defending, defending, that is the problem.” No, no. Defensive organisation starts with the attackers, it’s the whole team.
"And now we are the best defenders of the Premier League, you are saying that we cannot attack. No, it is not true. It is only a moment in the process. We have stood first in the Premier League. Now we have a bad period because it is a bad period when you do not score goals. Because football is scoring goals.
"Football is not a process. Football is not creating chances. No, football is you have to score goals because that makes the difference. We have to improve that, we are busy with that and I hope that we shall score against CSKA Moscow.
"But I know that it is very difficult because they are very organised. They shall play more defensively than Crystal Palace for example. So it shall be very difficult but still we try to score goals."
The manager also emphasised just how important the backing of the fans will always be to his team, stressing the need for collective support during Tuesday’s tricky match against CSKA.
“We have had a dip in our results and we have to come out of that dip,” van Gaal admitted.
"That's why we need the support of the fans and we have always received this support until now. But I hope, in spite of a lot of discussions, they shall support my players because my players have to do it. It is much more difficult to perform on the pitch than what I do, coaching.
"The players have to do it so the fans have to support the players. But I am very happy with that because the fans have always done that and I hope they will be the 12th player tomorrow again."

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Anthony Martial

Van Gaal: Martial can play in four positions

Louis van Gaal believes teenage forward Anthony Martial is capable of playing in four different attacking positions for Manchester United.
In his fledgling Reds career so far, Frenchman Martial has predominantly played as a striker or, more recently, in a wide left role as part of a three-pronged forward line.
Asked by reporters where he felt the 19-year-old was more effective, van Gaal said: “I don’t think I have said in one press conference that Anthony Martial is better left or in the striker’s position. I can never say that because I am always thinking of the team benefit and not of the benefit of one player.
“I have said that I always have to make decisions dependable on the game plan, dependable on the opponent and their weaknesses and so on. It’s not that I have said he is best in the left-winger position.
“He can play in three positions in his eyes and that is left, striker and no.10. He doesn't want to play at no.7 [wide right] but I am fully convinced that he can do that also. But that’s another story.
“What is his best position? I think that his best position maybe is the striker’s position. But he has to develop himself still. He is very young. But I think it is better to develop him in the striker’s position than in the left winger’s position.”
Martial continues to earn plaudits for the way he has adapted to English football, with Michael Carrick the latest to praise the summer signing from Monaco.
“I've been hugely impressed,” the midfielder said. “It's a big step to come to this club to play with the expectations and the standards that have been set. With that comes the responsibility and for a young lad to come over to a new country and a new culture – he doesn't speak an awful lot of the language – the start that he's had is incredible really.
“We just have to be careful and not expect too much from him. It is early days and he is going to have ups and downs because that's the nature of how it goes. The signs are obviously very positive – we've all seen that. When he's on the pitch, he looks a lot older than his age. So there are great signs for the future for him and for the club.”
Van Gaal echoed Carrick’s warning that fans must not get carried away by Martial’s impressive start. Team-mate Memphis has suffered a slight dip in form in recent weeks and the boss says that’s inevitable for young players.
“I have said that Memphis is the greatest talent of his age but he is also only 21,” van Gaal said. “That is an age when you cannot expect consistency. And he has to adapt to many things. I expected this. We have to give him time.
“We have to give Anthony Martial time when he is a bit lower. Maybe Anthony will continue scoring goals and winning matches, but I expect he will also have a dip in form.”

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Wayne Rooney

United's top 50 scorers

Here’s our epic countdown of Manchester United's top 50 scorers of all time, updated after Wayne Rooney netted his 237th goal for the club in the 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow on 3 November. That strike put him level with the great Denis Law in second place...

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Manchester United

Manchester United 1 CSKA Moscow 0

Scorers: Rooney 79' | 3 November 2015 | Old Trafford | Attendance: 75,165
Manchester United's goal drought ended in dramatic fashion as Wayne Rooney's header in front of the Stretford End secured a 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.
The Reds had not found the net in consecutive matches against Manchester City, Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace, which was a cause for concern ahead of this crunch tie in Group B. Although it took 80 minutes to find a breakthrough at a rain-sodden Old Trafford, the captain eventually delivered the goods to achieve a result that places the Reds top of the pool following Wolfsburg’s 2-0 defeat at PSV Eindhoven.
Louis van Gaal made three changes to his starting XI by recalling Ashley Young, Michael Carrick and Jesse Lingard, while crucially sticking with the under-fire Rooney up front. The United and England skipper almost scored in the third minute when his left-footed shot flashed just wide of the post, prompting audible cheers of his name from the Old Trafford faithful who were so eager to celebrates goals from the no.10.
Lingard unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty moments later and quickly hit another effort wide of target, before a fine long ball from Daley Blind on the halfway line led to Juan Mata forcing a decent save from goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev on 15 minutes as the Reds pressed for a first goal since Anthony Martial’s header in the previous fixture against CSKA at Arena Khimki, some four matches ago.
United completely dominated the first half - both in terms of possession and shots at goal - but were guilty of missing genuine opportunities with Rooney’s free-kick bouncing wide, Lingard’s second shot flying over and Marcos Rojo’s back-post volley missing the target from close range. It was undoubtedly a much-improved performance from the Reds, with just the finishing touch lacking.
HALF-TIME STATISTICS
Possession: United 73% CSKA 27%
Shots at goal: United 8 CSKA 0
Shots on target: United 2 CSKA 0
Corners: United 4 CSKA 0
The second half began as the first left off, with the Reds missing further chances to score as Rojo nodded wide from just outside the six-yard box before the Argentinian - who used to play for CSKA’s rivals Spartak Moscow - supplied a cross from which Martial headed at the goalkeeper. The Frenchman might have done better, yet his pace and energy suggested more chances would come.
The visitors were defending with all 11 men behind the ball and they rarely ventured past the halfway line, except for the odd counter attack, which posed a conundrum for United. How do you break down a stubborn Russian defence? Van Gaal introduced Marouane Fellini for Martial on the hour mark and the deadlock was almost broken moments later, when Rooney received the ball from Mata inside the six-yard area but was unable to move his feet quickly enough to execute a shot, much to his frustration.
Memphis, who had scored Champions League goals against Club Brugge and former club PSV, entered the fray on 74 minutes and his cross soon led to Carrick firing wide from range. CSKA then went close to causing an upset when Seydou Doumbia forced an excellent save from De Gea before the scorer on matchday three hit a shot on the rebound that was sensationally cleared off the line by Chris Smalling.
The eventual breakthrough could not have been scripted better – Rooney popped up inside the area to head Lingard’s excellent cross past the goalkeeper in front of a jubilant Stretford End, where the captain celebrated by running to the corner flag and wildly punching the air. It was a moment of relief and ecstasy, but more importantly it was a goal that earned three invaluable points in Champions League Group B.
FULL-TIME STATISTICS
Possession: United 69% CSKA Moscow 31%
Shots at goal: United 14 CSKA Moscow 5
Shots on target: United 5 CSKA Moscow 3
Corners: United 10 CSKA Moscow 2
THE TEAMS
United: De Gea, Young, Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Schweinsteiger (Herrera 88'), Carrick, Lingard, Mata (Memphis 73'), Martial (Fellaini 66'), Rooney.
Subs not used: Romero, Jones, Darmian, Pereira.
Booked:

CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev, Ferdnandes, Wenbloom, Ignashevich, Berezutski, Tosic (Golovin), Dzagoev, Musa, Milanov, Schennikov, Natcho (Doumbia 55').
Subs not used: Chepchugov, Vasin, Panchenko, Nababkin.
Booked: Schennikov, Wernbloom
MATCH REACTION
Van Gaal: "It was a fantastic goal; the preparation was fantastic. The tackle of Marcos Rojo, the pass of Michael Carrick, the cut-back of Jesse Lingard and the header of Wayne Rooney. It was fantastic."

Schweinsteiger: “For us it was very important to win that match at home. Also, in the group, we are now at the top and we have to win the next match against Eindhoven, but the situation is much better now.”
MAN OF THE MATCH
Lingard produced a brave and combatic performance that impressed followers of the club's official Twitter account, who voted him their star man ahead of fellow nominees Smalling and Schweinsteiger.

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Wayne Rooney

Rooney honoured to equal Denis Law's tally

Wayne Rooney described equalling Denis Law’s goal tally for Manchester United as a “huge honour” following his late winner in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League encounter with CSKA Moscow.
The goal means that Rooney is now level with Law as the club's second highest goalscorer, having netted 237 times for the Reds - a tally which began in the same competition with a hat-trick on his debut against Fenerbache in 2004. The United captain is now just 13 strikes short of overtaking Sir Bobby Charlton at the top of the chart.
Speaking after the match, Wayne declared his immense pride at this latest achievement and reflected on a difficult victory against a strong CSKA Moscow side at Old Trafford for United.
"I am extremely proud, Denis [Law] is a legend for this club. To equal his goalscoring record is a huge honour for me.
"It was a tough game, it is difficult when teams come and defend. We had to keep digging away at them, it was really hard to break them down. Thankfully the chance came at the end and we got the goal, it was a big win for us. I think we deserved the three points.
"It was an important game and an important goal in this Champions league campaign. It is a tight group, but thankfully we are top at the minute."
The goalscorer was quick to praise United goalkeeper David de Gea for a key save, as he dived low to deny Seydou Doumbia only a minute before Rooney eventually gave United the lead.
“To keep his concentration like that and to make a save like he did was crucial," said the skipper.
Rooney and his team-mates will now switch focus to Saturday’s Barclays Premier League clash with West Brom, and Wayne again expects it to be another hard-fought match at Old Trafford with former colleagues Darren Fletcher and Jonny Evans now in the visitors' squad.
"They have moved on now, and they’ll be looking to get the points for themselves. We have to work out a way to break them down and hopefully we can upset them," said Rooney with a smile.

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Bastian Schweinsteiger

Bastian: Rooney winner has many benefits

Bastian Schweinsteiger believes Wayne Rooney’s winning goal against CSKA Moscow on Tuesday will benefit both the player and Manchester United's UEFA Champions League campaign.
The Reds had not scored in three consecutive matches across all competitions but created plenty of chances against the Russian champions, who defended with 11 men behind the ball and provided stubborn opposition at Old Trafford – until Rooney headed home a deserved winner on 79 minutes.
Louis van Gaal’s men are now top of Group B and know that a victory over PSV Eindhoven at Old Trafford on matchday four will clinch qualification to the all-important knockout rounds. Schweinsteiger, who impressed against CSKA, is convinced his captain’s goal will benefit the club in several areas.
“It was a big moment for us because we hadn’t scored a goal in the last few matches so it was very important, especially after the big chance for Moscow in the second half,” Bastian told MUTV. “It felt good. I think we deserved this victory because we did a lot for the game, we tried to create chances and I think we had some, especially for Marcos Rojo in the first half and some other players.
“For us it was very important to win that match at home. Also, in the group, we are now at the top and we have to win the next match against Eindhoven, but the situation is much better now.”
Quizzed on the importance of Rooney’s goal and the relief of seeing United score for the first time in four matches, Schweinsteiger continued: “We are just happy that we could finish one of our attacks. I am also happy for Wayne that he scored his goal and I think it will give him a lot of confidence and I hope he can use this confidence in the next match against West Brom.”
Schweinsteiger was nominated for United's official Man of the Match award alongside Chris Smalling and eventual winner Jesse Lingard, who earned 48 per cent of votes from followers of the club's official Twitter account @ManUtd.

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Ander Herrera

Ander Herrera says defence is key to success after United beat CSKA

Manchester United registered a fifth clean sheet in six games in a 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow on Tuesday, something Ander Herrera says could be vital to the Reds' success this season.
Herrera came off the bench in the final minutes of the Champions League clash to help secure an important victory, one which has seen Louis van Gaal's side move to the top of Group B with two games remaining.
While recent focus has been on a lack of goals at the other end of the pitch, the latest shutout means United can claim not to have conceded in all competitions since the last meeting with the Russian side on 21 October.
"It’s a positive that we’re not conceding goals," Herrera told ManUtd.com. "We saw it last year with Chelsea; I don’t think they scored too many goals, but they didn’t concede many either. That’s important when you want to have a great season, you can’t give away many chances.
"I think we controlled the game against Moscow. We only conceded one chance, which was good. We also created 10 or 12 chances, which was also good – we want to control games and did that today."
As for the all-important winner at Old Trafford, the Spaniard admitted feeling relieved at seeing the ball hit the back of the net, and praised goalscorer Wayne Rooney for his contribution.
"Of course there was relief, but Wayne is one of our most important players. He’s our leader, our captain, and we’re happy when he scores. When he doesn’t score, he fights for the team and that helps a lot as well," he said.
"He’s very important, and I think he has a very strong mind. When he doesn’t score, he keeps fighting in the same way, and that’s important for us. I always say the same: he’s one of the best players in the world, one of the stars, and he’s not selfish. For us, it’s very important when he feels good. When he scores, of course it’s better for everyone, but if not he still fights.
"I can only say what I see, and what I see is that he gives everything. We say the same thing every day: he does a lot of things for the club and the team. Of course he’s one of the best in the world, his trajectory is unbelievable. The way he fights, the way he trains and the way he gives his opinion to the other players. Maybe those on the outside only see what’s on the pitch, but he’s also very important off it."
Herrera also had a kind word for the fans after the game, saying: "They show me their support every day, I am very thankful. They give me the strength to keep fighting and playing as well as possible. I want to give everything for this club."

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