YOU FAILED ME!
United flops summoned to one-on-one meetings with LVG
LOUIS VAN GAAL has hauled his squad in for one-on-one meetings in an effort to solve Manchester United’s crisis.
United beat Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup on Monday but only after their frustrated manager launched an inquest following last Thursday’s Europa League humbling at the hands of Midtjylland.
Van Gaal took each player who was involved in the 2-1 defeat into his Carrington office last Friday as he sought answers for their inept display and the team’s poor form.
United’s stars spent up to 20 minutes each with their despairing boss, explaining what they thought was wrong and how they could put it right. The meetings began shortly after 11.30am and continued through lunch and into the afternoon.
Van Gaal was trying to establish why his players were failing to respond to his instructions.
Victory over Shrewsbury was the positive reaction he was searching for but United know the real test of any revival will only come against Arsenal on Sunday.
AS Jose Mourinho continued to flutter his eyelashes at Manchester United from afar yesterday, the man whose job he covets urged his players to be ‘horny’ for victory against Midtjylland at Old Trafford tonight.
Louis van Gaal’s bizarre battle cry was designed to demonstrate the hunger and passion with which he wants United to pursue a place in the last 16 of the Europa League, by overturning a 2-1 deficit from last week’s first leg in Herning.
Instead it led to widespread amusement at yesterday’s press conference, not least from Juan Mata, sitting to Van Gaal’s right.
‘Desire, hunger, a lot of times I use the word horny!’ exclaimed the United boss.
Did he mean sexy football? Right now, Van Gaal would surely settle for any kind of win if it averted the humiliation of going out of Europe’s junior competition.
He acknowledged it will be the ‘match of their lives’ for Midtjylland, who sit third in the Danish Superliga, but dismissed suggestions his side should be expected to win.
‘Yes, I know everybody is thinking Manchester United have to win against Midtjylland,’ he said. ‘That is because of the status of Manchester United, but you have to analyse the opposition. When I see the data of Midtjylland, they have always won against English opponents.
‘Most of their players shall be excited and it will be the match of their lives — it is not a good signal for Manchester United.’
Victory at Shrewsbury in the FA Cup on Monday quelled the latest storm gathering around Van Gaal. But the Dutchman knows he will come under pressure again if an injury-hit United go out tonight.
He admitted that the personal criticism of his management could be having an adverse effect on the players, saying: ‘I think maybe it can be an influence because there is a lot of criticism. But they have to use their tools to ignore the criticism, not only of their manager but also of themselves.’
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Will Keane picked up injuries at Shrewsbury and Chris Smalling faces a late fitness test after hurting his shoulder in that game.
Marcos Rojo is expected to be on the bench after returning to training with Antonio Valencia yesterday, and teenagers Regan Poole and Marcus Rashford could be called up to Van Gaal’s squad.
Mourinho continued to position himself as a possible replacement during a trip to Singapore yesterday. The 53-year- old Portuguese, who failed to nudge United into action by previously indicating he was eager for an early return to management having left Chelsea in December, now claims he wants to wait until the start of next season.
‘It’s quite a funny career,’ he said. ‘I am the English champion, and I still have no job. I’m travelling, I’m enjoying my friends, I’m enjoying my family, I’m enjoying my life.
‘ I feel that starting the next season with a new club and project is probably the best thing for me.’