Louis van Gaal reveals new striker plans ahead of Champions League clash with Club Bruges

Marouane Fellaini scored a vital late goal for United in the first leg

MAROUANE FELLAINI will be deployed as a Manchester United striker this season, according to Louis van Gaal.

 

The Red Devils are thin on the ground in the attacking department this season following the departure of Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao.

And with Wayne Rooney struggling to hit the ground running in the first three league games, Van Gaal has admitted Fellaini will fill in as a No9.

 

Marouane Fellaini will be Louis van Gaal's new No9

Speaking ahead of United's Champions League qualifier second leg with Bruges, he said: "He can play as a no.6 or no.8 but this year he'll be more a no.9 or no.10 as we have players in the other positions."

The Belgian has already netted once this season, snatching a valuable late goal against their Champions League opponents to give them a 3-1 advantage heading into the second tie.

 

But Van Gaal admits his side will not rest on their laurels and will make sure of qualification to the group stages tomorrow night (7.45pm).

He said: "I don't think my players shall take it easy so no, I don't think we will be in danger.

"We have had the same preparation and I don't think that they shall start differently to last week."

 

He added: "It was very important [Fellaini's goal] because now we can start this game with a lot of confidence, more confidence.

"Maybe we had to finish it a lot earlier in that game. So this is an important game because it was our aim last year to particulate in the Champions League and still we are not participating, it's the preliminary rounds, so it's very important.

 

This is an important game because it was our aim last year to particulate in the Champions League

Louis van Gaal

 

"You have to play the game and at the end you have to have scored one goal more than your opponent.

"They have shown that by scoring [at Old Trafford] they are capable of doing that again and with the support of the fans, we have seen their fans in Manchester. I think they shall support them a lot."