Louis van Gaal cited Anthony Martial’s second half chance as a key moment in Manchester United’s heavy defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
United had started the game relatively well but their opponents eventually grew into the match, with their superiority culminating in three goals in the space of six second-half minutes.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah’s departure through injury on 67 minutes proved to be a key moment, with the young Dutchman putting in an outstanding performance at right back. United capitulated in his , as Dele Alli scored within three minutes of him being substituted, and goals from Toby Alderweireld and Erik Lamela followed soon after.
Here’s what Louis van Gaal had to say in his post-match interview with Sky Sports:
I think until the fist goal we are at least the equal team. I think the better chance was for us with Martial, I think it was a big chance, big space and big time for him. But we give the goal away I think, miscommunication, and then you know what is happening and then within five minutes we are out of the game.
On the time between conceding the first and second goals, with the latter coming from a free kick, Van Gaal added:
You don’t clear your heads. I think that is strongly expressed because the second goal is a set play and our best header [Marcos Rojo], or one of our best headers, loses that duel and it was also a fantastic header of Alderweireld. But it is happening, it cannot happen and that is also what I said to him.
On his decision to bring Ashley Young on as a central striker and losing ground on the top four, Van Gaal also said:
I want more running in behind because in the first half we didn’t have an attacking point there. Every team can lose from everybody so still we are in the race, but of course when you lose a game then you have to close the gap again and thats more difficult.
On whether the manner of the defeat disappointed him, Van Gaal stated:
No, I dont think so because I think that Tottenham is a great team. I say that also in advance of this match but until the first goal I think we were a good team, or were playing good in Tottenham and also had a big chance for a goal but you cannot say that the way we have lost – yes 3-0 is a big negative result – but the way we have played until the first goal was good.
United are now four points behind fourth-placed Manchester City with just six Premier League games remaining, and Van Gaal’s comments will have done little to ease the Reds’ mood after this disappointing display.
