A WAKE-UP CALL
Louis irked as Everton expose his timid flops
LOUIS VAN GAAL accused Manchester United’s players of lacking desire after defeat at Everton put their top-four hopes back in the balance.
The irritation that United’s manager felt following his worst day i n the Barclays Premier League was obvious and he did not make any excuses f or a toothless and meek performance.
The scoreline did not flatter Everton and van Gaal claimed the difference between the two sides came in the attitude and approach they adopted.
Van Gaal admitted he was worried after watching United go through their pre-match warm-up and those fears were shared by his assistants, Ryan Giggs and Albert Stuivenberg, both of whom expressed concerns about the squad’s sharpness.
‘When you have a lot of time on the ball, you can lose the ball easily and then you have to be very sharp in the duels that count,’ said van Gaal. ‘When you see the goal after five minutes, three duels in a row we lost and that is an example.
‘This is the first time that I have seen that our motivation, inspiration and aggression was not so high as the opponent and that was the reason (we lost).
‘I already had the feeling and Ryan and Albert had the feeling because the warm-up was not so good as usual. Then you say that in the last minutes before the game, you hope you can recover and stimulate your players but, by then, it is too late.
‘In the first half we created a lot of chances, five I think, but we never scored. When you see the shots on the goal it is also without conviction. That is not good.’
Van Gaal now recognises Liverpool, who play twice before United’s next game, have a real chance to apply pressure in the race for a Champions League spot.
‘We are playing so well that players think “OK, it shall come” — but it shall not come,’ he said. ‘You need i nspiration, motivation and aggression to fight to the end. We’ve given a light to (Liverpool).’
Two former Everton players — Marouane Fellaini and Wayne Rooney — endured poor afternoons, with van Gaal revealing he substituted Fellaini to prevent him being sent-off, while Rooney suffered a knee injury that needs assessing.
The home supporters, however, were not concerned about them and instead basked in their best afternoon of t he campaign. Everton have now taken 16 points from the last 18 available and manager Roberto Martinez saluted a ‘complete’ team performance.
‘There has been a big difference after the amount of time we had to cope with the demands of Europe and the league,’ said Martinez.
‘By the end of January, we got into the right mentality to cope with both competitions. It has been difficult. Our performance today was very similar to our performance against Wolfsburg in the first half of the season. Today I hope the players get the credit they deserve.
‘Six games ago, we had 28 points and we had to win games. I do feel we were better in every department.’
This time there was no man in a Grim Reaper costume waiting for the United manager behind the dugout at Goodison Park.
The dark days of ridicule for the Barclays Premier League’s most successful club have now gone. Nevertheless, there was a reminder here for David Moyes’ successor that the task before him remains vast.
The Dutchman’s biggest defeat as United manager, this setback has arrived just when the optimists were beginning to talk as though the repair job at Old Trafford was complete.
United had begun passing the ball well in the unjust defeat at Chelsea last weekend and began this game in a similar groove.
But in only the fifth minute, the ball broke loose 10 yards inside the Everton half and it seemed as though United were already in trouble.
Seeing grass ahead of him, James McCarthy strode forward to feed Seamus Coleman to his right. The Everton defender tried to find Romelu Lukaku breaking through the centre but it was when the ball broke from a red shirt that United really failed themselves.
McCarthy was first to the loose ball but still had much to do. The attempts to halt his progress from Paddy McNair and Daley Blind were weak and McCarthy was able to break through and score from just six yards.
The next goal was always likely to be crucial and once Everton scored it 10 minutes before half-time, the road back already looked too long for van Gaal’s team.
Once again the danger started down Everton’s right. On this occasion the United defence cleared for a corner but when Baines delivered, John Stones arrived to head in his first Everton goal.
Van Gaal responded at half-time by replacing Fellaini — who had been booked — and sending on Radamel Falcao.
Rooney was denied by Tim Howard as he shot on the turn following a corner in the 47th minute but, at the other end, Luke Shaw had to be quick to stop the breaking Ross Barkley.
Barkley was having a mixed afternoon. Eventually, however, the 21-year-old got it right, playing the ball smartly over the top towards substitute Kevin Mirallas with 16 minutes left.
Lukaku, breaking through the middle, l ooked yards offside. However, the ball had been played in the direction of Mirallas and, as the United defence looked for a flag, the Belgian eased clear to beat David de Gea intelligently with his right instep.
Van Gaal was already preparing his fiercest post-match shellacking of the season. He now has six days to elicit a reaction.