Manchester United lost their unbeaten Premier League record this season today, losing 2-1 to Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium. Juan Mata gave United the lead early in the second half, but goals from André Ayew and Bafétimbi Gomis handed the Swans three points in Louis van Gaal’s 50th game in charge of the Reds.
This result puts United fifth in the Premier League heading into the upcoming international break, and van Gaal has not managed to beat Swansea in three attempts so far.
van Gaal and Mata were both interviewed after the game by Sky Sports, and here’s what they had to say:
Juan Mata:
“It’s a big disappointment. We did the most difficult thing, which is to score first. Then in five minutes we lost the game. We conceded two quick goals and we couldn’t score more. They changed the shape, so they were quick enough and created two quick plays and scored the goals. We had to learn the lessons from last season, but we didn’t. We had it under control at the start of the second half and we looked nice, but then we lost it in five minutes.”
Louis van Gaal:
“We lost the game in five minutes and that cannot happen. The opponents changed their shape because we were 1-0 ahead and were dominating. We could have scored more, maybe we should have. Nevertheless, they changed the shape and we didn’t react as a team and were not compact enough in that moment so, in five minutes, we lost the game. It’s a big pity we lost.” – on where the game was lost
“I think we were in control for 85 minutes – that’s what I have seen. The result was 2-1 to them and that cannot happen. We gave the game away in five minutes and that cannot happen. We must learn from it.” – on United’s dominance
“It is not only the defence. It starts with the offence as well. You have to give pressure on the ball before the defence has to act and all the players know that. We can analyse the errors but the most important thing is that we didn’t change our shape when they changed theirs.” – on Swansea’s goals
“No, it doesn’t have any effect. When you are scouting players, you already know in advance more than a month or two months which ones you can buy or not. It’s not that we are in a panic at the last moment. When you see the game, we were the dominant team but you have to score more and not concede the goals.” – on United’s approach in the transfer market
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