Manchester United suffered their fourth straight defeat against Stoke City today, heaping further pressure on Louis van Gaal’s position at the club.
Goals from Bojan and Marko Arnautovic made it seven straight games without a win in all competitions for the Reds in what was once again a poor performance from the Dutchman’s side.
More questions will be asked of van Gaal’s future at Old Trafford after this latest loss and the Dutchman may not even be in charge when United face Chelsea at home two days from now.
Here’s what he had to say to Sky Sports after the final whistle at the Britannia Stadium:
My thoughts are that we didn’t dare to play football in the first half and then we gave a very bad goal away. That was too much. They scored from a free-kick and then it was half-time. We have spoken with each other and I have to say the second half was much better, we created one or two chances and you have to score. Then the belief is coming back and we played better in the second half, but the problem is we didn’t dare to play. That is my analysis.
I am always very faithful [to the players] and I see also how they have trained, they wanted to perform well, but the circumstances are also difficult. It is not only the circumstances with the wind but also with the pressure [on the players]. That is, in my opinion, the reason why they didn’t dare to play football. In the second half we were in a losing position and then you can give everything more easily. That is what we have done.
That is now the big issue, I have tried to do everything, but the pressure shall be higher and higher with every match. That is the problem now. It is more difficult because I am also part of the four matches we have lost so people are looking at me and I have to deal with that, but, more importantly, the players have to deal with that because they are the ones who have to perform.
My message was that the media are saying and writing things that are not happening inside Manchester United. That was my message and not that I am hurt because I am used to that.
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