Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Van Gaal believes United still have a title chance
Coach admits he can’t do without Marouane Fellaini right now
LOUIS VAN GAAL says Manchester United can still win the Premier League, even though his side sits eight points behind leaders Chelsea having played a game more going into the run-in.
Van Gaal also admitted that Marouane Fellaini has become almost undroppable, given his performances in United’s recent run of form.
Victory over Aston Villa today would put some pressure on neighbours Manchester City – currently second – who don’t play until Monday at Crystal Palace.
Van Gaal, who confirmed that Robin van Persie is still injured, said: “There is still a rat race (for fourth) that Liverpool and Tottenham are involved in. We have given them a blow, but we still have to play the top three teams.
“A lot can happen. Still we can win the title, mathematically. We can do that.”
Fellaini is expected to start against Aston Villa after coming to the fore under Van Gaal this season.
And the United manager revealed that Fellaini has emerged as one of his most valuable players as he urged his squad to aim high between now and the end of the season.
“I cannot change Fellaini given the way he is playing at the moment,” said Van Gaal. “I had heard a lot of stories about him before I met him here but from the first training session he did everything I asked.
“He has been unlucky with injuries and illness but when he has been fit he has always played for me.”
It was expected Van Persie would return this weekend from his ankle injury but Van Gaal said he’s not match fit.
Jose Mourinho will start Eden Hazard against Stoke today despite the player suggesting he is tired.
The Belgian said earlier this week he is feeling weary as the season reaches its climax.
But the Chelsea manager, who also confirmed Diego Costa has recovered from a hamstring injury, will not take his wing wizard out of the firing line against the Potters. Hazard started both of Belgium’s Euro 2016 qualifiers during the international break.
“Hazard is tired because he played two matches in three days,” said Mourinho. “He travelled and didn’t sleep because he arrived in Belgium at five or six in the morning after playing in Israel. We think he can recover in these couple of days, but he plays tomorrow (Saturday).
“That’s football. That’s what a season is like for a player who is important for both his club and national team. I want to play him every time and the coach of his country wants to play him every time.
“He is a team player that plays with the ball, creates, dribbles and plays with lots of intensity so it is not a surprise that he can be a bit tired. But I believe in him, the team and his ambition to play.
“And I believe in his desire to help the team reach their season objective, so I will start with him.”
Spain striker Costa missed the international break with injury, but could yet feature against Stoke at Stamford Bridge today after training for the last couple of days.
However Mourinho refused to confirm whether his top scorer would start the game.
“Diego trained on Thursday and Friday with the group,” continued Mourinho. “He is not injured but I don’t know if I will start with him or not. I need to analyse the situation with him and make a decision.
“He dedicated himself to getting fit on his days off, working hard in the morning and afternoon. We can say that we did all the tests and scans to confirm that scientifically at this moment the muscle is fine.
“But in football you need the confidence to know you are free to express maximum intensity, and that’s our doubt. So we’ll see in the next 24 hours then decide.”
Although they sit six points clear at the top of the league with a game in hand on all their nearest rivals, Mourinho still believes that there is a four-horse race for the title this season.
“Look at the points difference,” he said. “You have to say four ( teams) now. Not five, because there’s a gap from fourth to fifth and, with eight matches to go, that’s a difficult gap from first to fifth.
“But the points difference between second, third and fourth makes me think and feel that they are there.”
He added: “We need six victories and one draw from nine matches. It is a good situation for us, and one all the other clubs would like to have. But it’s pure mathematics. We need to win six matches and draw one. We need to do that, and we haven’t done it yet.”
And despite Manchester United’s inconsistency this season, Mourinho still believes Van Gaal’s side are in with a shot at the title. “The number of the points is the number of points. The points are there. In the last few matches they’ve become consistent in results and the quality of their performances.” – Daily Mail