Van Gaal fires back at critics

Louis van Gaal insists that he is still the right man to manage Manchester United despite the Reds crashing out of the Champions League this week.

The pressure has cranked up on the Dutchman after United fell to a 3-2 defeat against Wolfsburg on Tuesday night, knocking the Reds out of a competition they have won three times in the past and down into the Europa League after Christmas.

Recent performances have been criticised by fans and pundits alike, but van Gaal launched a fiery defence of his managerial nous at the pre-match press conference ahead of United’s trip to Bournemouth on Saturday.

When asked whether he had any doubts that he would be able to win a trophy with United, the Dutchman bluntly said:

No. I don’t have any doubts.

Van Gaal went on to admit that the players were struggling with the expectations placed on their shoulders:

You can lose and you can win in sport, and you have to accept that, as a player and as a manager, but you have to work very hard and I am working very hard and my players are working very hard and doing everything we can do.

The problem is that we have to meet the expectations and the expectations at a club like Manchester United are very high, and that’s our problem.

I don’t want to defend myself. I work hard with my players, now we are in the Europa League and we have to work hard to win that.

The Dutchman also refused to compare his current side with vintage United sides of the past, stating:

You have to analyse the club now. You can’t compare it with 10 years ago, there is an evolution in football and in European football.

I have a task. I came to improve and win the title when it is possible. We are in that process. When I say that we are in a process, I shall have the criticism that football is not a process and things like that.

Finally, the United boss scoffed at suggestions that the Europa League was a minor trophy:

Just? You think it’s just? I’m not thinking like that. I have already won the Europa League with Ajax in my first season, and I was very proud of that. For me, the Euro (Europa) League is a big competition.