Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal was in a defiant mood after the Reds’ 0-0 draw against Chelsea at Old Trafford.
United put in a much-improved performance against the struggling Blues but were unable to break the deadlock. Juan Mata and Anthony Martial saw their shots hit the woodwork in the first half while Ander Herrera was denied at point-blank range by a wonderful save from Thibault Courtois in the second half.
Chelsea also had their chances, with John Terry denied in the opening few minutes by David de Gea, while the Spaniard made a double save early in the second half to keep out Pedro and Cesar Azpilicueta. Nemanja Matic also had a golden chance, but somehow blazed his shot into row Z while through on goal.
Speaking to BT Sport, van Gaal was adamant that United put in a good performance and that the luck didn’t fall their way:
I think that it was a very good performance, but you have to score the goal and we didn’t. We forced the luck, two times we hit the post when the goalkeeper was beaten, then we have also a big chance in the second half, two penalty cases and we didn’t receive the penalty so we are forcing the luck but we don’t have the luck we need.
We were the dominant team and we have attacked, I think 70% [possession] and we have created chances. We shot on the goals, on the posts, we provoked the penalties and we are not lucky in the finishing, but in the former matches I think that we don’t forced the luck, now we have forced the luck but it is still not possible.
The United manager insisted that this result would not have a personal impact on his position at the club:
It’s for me not an interesting subject because I cannot have any influence on that. I can only work with my players and you have seen that the players are fighting for me, that they have given a good performance. Even after this result, the fans were applauding so I cannot say that I am very much concerned but in this football world, you never know, but I have full confidence in the board and that’s also more important for my players.
Finally, van Gaal refuted suggestions that he would be resigning after this match:
On the contrary, when the players can give such a performance with such a lot of pressure, there is not any reason to resign for me. Maybe the media wants that, but I shall not do that. I have a contract, so it is not a question of staying, it is a question of fulfilling my contract.
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