Louis van Gaal says Man Utd deserved to win and rues Man City's tactics change

Louis van Gaal says Manchester United deserved win at Old Trafford

LOUIS VAN GAAL believes Manchester United deserved to take all three points in the Manchester derby yesterday.

 

United and City played out a dour 0-0 draw at Old Trafford that was short on entertainment as well as chances with both sides cancelling each other out.

The Red Devils came closest to breaking the deadlock in the closing stages when Jesse Lingard hit the crossbar and defender Chris Smalling forced a smart save from Joe Hart.

Van Gaal feels his men deserved to win as they were more focused than Manuel Pellegrini's, despite both sides registering just one shot on target each.

 

But the Dutchman admits United were undone by a Pellegrini's decision to alter their tactics from their midweek win over Sevilla.

He said: “I am very proud of my players because I think we played 90 minutes of a tough game. Both sides played a very tactical game. 

"It was very compact and organised, that is how Manchester City played against us. They adapted the line-up against us. 

 

Jesse Lingard came closest to breaking the deadlock against Manchester City

"Against Sevilla in the Champions League, they played with two strikers and now they played with one, with one more player in midfield, so it was a tough game. 

"We created more chances but we didn’t finish them and that is the disappointment because you must win these kinds of games for the fans. 

"It is the derby and when you are so focused and so concentrated like we were today then, yeah, you deserve to win. But sometimes you don’t get what you deserve.”