Van Gaal: “It’s the Law of Murphy”
A dejected Louis van Gaal seemed to blame Manchester United’s defeat against Midtjylland in the Europa League on Murphy’s Law.
Paul Onuachu’s second-half winner ensured United would have a mountain to climb in the second leg at Old Trafford after Memphis’ opener was cancelled out by Pione Sisto’s deflected effort on the stroke of half-time.
It was an abject performance from United, who never looked like they wanted to be in Denmark on this cold Thursday night, and questions will once again be asked of van Gaal’s future at the club. It was a lifeless display and Midtjylland certainly deserved to triumph.
All round, it was a terrible night for United, who lost goalkeeper David de Gea to a suspected knee injury in the pre-match warm-up.
Speaking to BT Sport after the defeat, the United manager said:
We could have scored also. Jesse Lingard had two remarkable chances. I think it’s the Law of Murphy.
We were not organised. That’s what happens when you play with a different team and different players every week.
We have the chance to beat them next week at home and I think we must do that.
United now travel to play Shrewsbury Town away in the FA Cup on Monday night, before playing Midtjylland in the second leg on Thursday.