Louis Van Gaal was adamant after Thursday’s loss to Liverpool that Manchester United were still on track and everything was going according to plan. Manchester United will be taking on West Ham in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and he said that Manchester United still have a chance of winning a trophy this year.
“We are in three different competitions, and at this stage of the season a lot of other teams and managers cannot say that,” he argued. “We still have the chance to win something.”
Van Gaal blamed injuries for Manchester United’s mixed performances this season. He said:
“I have to always keep changing the team,” Van Gaal offered in explanation of United’s mood swings. “I have been unable to play the same lineup in many matches because of injuries or tired players. When you are in three competitions and you don’t have too many players it is difficult.”
Van Gaal says winning the FA Cup and Europa League is still possible
The Dutchman admitted that his side’s performance against Liverpool was not upto the mark, however, he was optimistic about his team’s future performances.
“I agree that the Liverpool game was not one of our best performances but we haven’t been playing like that all season. There are games when we have played better.
"After the defeat to Midtjylland, I was sacked according to the media, but we stood up again in the next match and put a run of wins together. Maybe that could still happen in the second leg with Liverpool, and it is also possible that we can beat West Ham in the FA Cup.”
Van Gaal was asked whether his three-year plan was on track and the Dutchman replied by saying he believed that his Manchester United team were on the right track.
“I think it is working, though the circumstances are sometimes difficult and we are not always getting the best results,” he says.
“We are not playing well enough to be champions, but it is still possible to win the Europa League or the FA Cup. We have a lot still to fight for. If we go out of one of the cups it is a difficult situation for everyone, but we still have the chance to win something and we have to keep believing we can.”
