Van Gaal calls for Manchester United players to control emotions in derby

CAUTIOUS: Manchester United coach Louis van Gaal LOUIS van Gaal has warned his Manchester United players to “control emotion” during today’s derby clash with Manchester City to avoid suffering the same red-card fate that contributed to last November’s defeat at the Etihad Stadium.

Van Gaal, who admitted it would be a “dream” to end United’s four-game losing streak against City to move four points clear of the champions, saw his team play with 10 men for 51 minutes of the 1-0 defeat by Manuel Pellegrini’s men this season after Chris Smalling’s dismissal for two yellow cards.

Smalling’s red card was one of five issued to United this season.

“I have started our preparation with the red card,” Van Gaal said. “Control of emotions is a talent of a player. You have a lot of talents to be a professional player, and you know that when you already have a yellow card you don’t have to make a second foul.

“But it is a learning process. Luke Shaw also had a second yellow card. Wayne [Rooney] also had a red card.

“I am always warning in these kind of games that we have to control our emotion, so I hope that after all the red cards we have had — it is a record in my career, so many red cards — that we do not get any more.”

Van Gaal, who confirmed neither Robin van Persie nor Shaw will be fit enough to start, said: “Of course I dream of beating City,” adding: “Every player dreams of victory. I have to think with my staff and my players, already a lot of days, how we have to beat Manch- ester City. Of course you want to win because it is a big step in the table also.”

City travel to Old Trafford with captain Vincent Kompany facing a fitness test on a hamstring injury, having already lost Dedryck Boyata, Stevan Jovetic and Wilfried Bony to injury for the game.

Despite his side having lost seven of 16 games in 2015, Pellegrini insists City are not in crisis and he has no concerns.

“Why am I so sure [about my future]?” Pellegrini said. “Because I have experience and you know when a squad is behind you when you are working.

“You can’t talk about something which is not your decision, but if you ask me why I’m not afraid — there are two things in my whole career — I’m not a coward and not afraid.” —