Van Gaal has grounds to be very worried
LOUIS VAN GAAL fears the emotion-charged atmosphere at Upton Park tonight could wreck Manchester United’s Champions League hopes.
United need to beat the Hammers and then Bournemouth in their final game to guarantee they pip neighbours City for fourth place – a draw or defeat tonight will take their destiny out of their own hands.
Van Gaal is concerned Slaven Bilic’s team will be fired up to bow out of the stadium they have occupied for more than a century with the win they need to boost their own Europa League hopes – especially after their unexpected 4-1 home defeat against Swansea on Saturday.
Van Gaal said: “It is a negative for us. We are playing opponents who are saying goodbye to their old stadium and do not want to lose the last game there. It’s not good for us.
“They have already lost to us in the FA Cup. We deserved to win that game but they were unlucky because they had a goal disallowed in the last minute. West Ham are a very good team – that’s why they are in the top seven.
“It’s a big night and the players will feel that. Everyone always raises their game against us but then it is the same for City, Arsenal and Chelsea. We don’t want to spoil the party because we have a lot of respect for West Ham and their history but we need the three points.”
United have kept clean sheets in half of their 36 league games this season and have the second-best defensive record after Tottenham, despite several lengthy injury absences to key defenders Luke Shaw, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo as well as wing-backs Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young.
Van Gaal admits he is worried about combating the aerial threat of Andy Carroll without the suspended Marouane Fellaini, who kept the Hammers striker quiet in the FA Cup replay last month.
“We are normally the smallest team in the Premier League so we have problems with set-plays. Missing Fellaini is a blow, I cannot deny that,” said Van Gaal.
United have good reason to fear tonight’s intriguing game. They lost the 1994-95 title to Blackburn after being held to a draw on the final day at Upton Park.
And three years earlier they suffered a crucial late-season defeat there – to a Kenny Brown goal that went in off his knee – a result that paved the way for Leeds to pip them to the final First Division title in 1991-92. But going even further back Sir Matt Busby’s team did wrap up the 1966-67 championship there with a resounding 6-1 win.
Upton Park holds fond memories for Wayne Rooney, who not only made his England debut there but also holds the record for the most goals by a visiting player – seven – including a hat-trick in 2011 and a memorable volley from the halfway line in 2014.
Marcus Rashford and Daley Blind will be back after being rested for the win at Norwich. Anthony Martial faces a late fitness test after tweaking his knee in the warm-up on Saturday.