 |
| Man United boss Louis van Gaal reckons his side can't be champions if they repeat Arsenal display |
LOUIS VAN GAAL says Manchester United cannot expect to be Premier League champions if they repeat their sluggish performance at Arsenal.
Van Gaal described the display as “awful” in the two weeks he has spent reflecting on the defeat at the Emirates when United started slowly and were torn-apart by the Gunners who were three-up after 19 minutes.
The United boss has re-evaluated his preparations for that game - even questioning whether it was wise to give the players a day off on the Friday before the game - but hopes for a positive reaction at Everton tomorrow.
He said: “We cannot accept that [manner of defeat]. Not just me - but the members of staff and the payers cannot accept it from each other. We want to be the champions so you have to behave like champions, to improve yourselves to be champions in the future.
“To have two weeks to dwell on a result like that is awful. And before the last international break we lost at Swansea.
“These are always awful weeks because you are thinking constantly about how it happened and you cannot be manage it with your players because they are away on international duty. Most of them flew away directly after the match.
“It is a difficult time. Then when they come back you have to talk about the Arsenal game because we have to learn from it and improve.
“I have to evaluate myself too because I have changed the [normal] preparations because I gave them the Friday off. That can also have an influence. That meant I had to play 11 v 11 in a practice and provide the anlaysis of Arsenal game the day before the match.
“We also flew down this time whereas last season we went by train. There were a lot of differences [to our preparations] but the biggest one was the way we started the game. We have spoken about that and it must not happen again.
“Arsenal had a pass accuracy of 96 per cent in the first half. We had only 68 per cent and our average is 85 per cent of higher. Of course, it is not only the players it is the staff also – and even the team cook because he has a big influence on the atmosphere in the canteen. A lot of people are always important in this process.”
 |
| Wayne Rooney is fit to face his former club Everton |
United have lost on their last three trips to Goodison Park without scoring a goal and Van Gaal has not forgotten how they lost 3-0 there in April, which he described as their poorest performance under him at that stage.
He added: “How we respond is dependable on your opponent. Arsenal were a very good opponents – I knew that in advance – and Everton for us is always a difficult opponent.
“But I’m confident. I’ve seen the training and the reaction of my players so I‘’m confident but you cannot be sure it will be the result you want.”
Wayne Rooney is fit to face his former club but Ashley Young (calf) and Paddy McNair (abdominal) are both out.
Post a Comment Blogger Facebook Disqus