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| Louis van Gaal believes fans should aim their frustration at him and not his players |
LOUIS VAN GAAL has told Manchester United fans to have a go at him rather than his players.
The Old Trafford crowd were on the backs of the players at times in midweek as they struggled to break down CSKA Moscow in the Champions League before Wayne Rooney’s late winner ended 404 minutes of goalless action.
Van Gaal accepts the fans have a right to criticise but is concerned that the tension and pressure from the terraces will only serve to undermine the team - and wants any frustration aimed at him instead.
He said: “Criticism from the fans is never unfair because it is a feeling of the fans and you cannot criticise the feeling of the fans. I think we have to play for the fans.
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| Wayne Rooney scored Manchester United's first goal in four games against CSKA Moscow |
“But the fans also have to understand the resistance of our opponents and they also have to analyse.
“I think the supporters have to support the players, otherwise they make it very difficult for the players to play at Old Trafford.
“Until now they were fantastic so I cannot complaint about the fans. I can only advise them to criticise the manager and not the players.
“It’s very difficult to play for Manchester United because of the pressure at any time but with the yelling then it’s not good for all my players.
“It’s better to whistle at the manager. I can cope with it because I have had a lot of experience in it as my life as a manager.”
But former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach Van Gaal believes that although United scored only once in midweek they did try to entertain in midweek against a Russian side who came to defend.
He added: “I think we have attacked for 85 of the 90 minutes so we have given a lot of entertainment. But it [the perception of the game] is dependent on goals. When the goals are falling much faster then everyone is happy.
“When you analyse the games you have to take into account that it is always going to be difficult to dis-organise a team with 10 men behind the ball. When you have two teams who want to attack then it is easier to score goals.
“But that is why coaches play these tactics against us. They are relying on the counter attacks with players who are fast.
“CSKA came to play that way but created only one chance so I was very happy with our defensive organisation. And I was very happy with the way we attacked because we have won the game against a very well organised team.
“They won at Manchester City last season and even in the golden age of Manchester United they drew 3-3 at old Trafford – so we have made history.”
Morgan Schneiderlin is fit again for tomorrow’s home clash with West Brom after illness ruled him out in midweek but Matteo Darmian is suspended after picking up five cautions.
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