Louis van Gaal has told his Manchester United players to prepare themselves for more “boring” meetings because he thinks they are working.
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Van Gaal was in just as defiant a mood on Saturday night as he was on the eve of his team’s moraleboosting 3-1 win over Liverpool.
After breaking into song midpress conference to underline how he still had the support of players and fans, Van Gaal again poked fun at the stories of apparent unrest in the Old Trafford dressing room.
The United boss pointed out that his team would not have taken the lead had they not planned and practiced the free-kick drill that led to Daley Blind’s opener.
“I have to say the meetings about the set plays and the sessions about the set plays have paid off,” he said.
“So I am very happy because the first goal was the deciding goal. We have a lot of meetings, you know,” Van Gaal added with a grin.
David de Gea had made a successful return to action, Anthony Martial scored a stunning goal on debut and United recorded a big win over their most bitter rivals. But Van Gaal was not totally happy with everything he saw.
“As a manager you are never satisfied,” he said. “The fans are very satisfied, the fans are very pleased with David de Gea for example, but I have a criticism for him and I am sorry I have to say that. And that’s for all the players.
Van Gaal has a good big-game record: 5 wins, 2 draws, 2 defeats v Chelsea, City, Arsenal, Liverpool in league
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“I want to improve every individual, but because of that you also improve the team performance, which is what we are doing. It means a lot of meetings and a lot of training sessions. I have heard the words ‘boring’ and ‘too rigid’, but it is like that.”
Following two successive defeats expectations at Liverpool are low. After going 1-0 down to Blind’s curler, the Reds gifted United a second when Joe Gomez hacked Ander Herrera down in the box and he drove the resultant penalty into the roof of the net.
“Young Joe will learn you have to stay on your feet in the box,” was Brendan Rodgers’ message to the 18-year-old summer signing from Charlton.
Liverpool’s strong start is now a thing of the past. Rodgers admits things will have to change fast to get the team back on track.
“We need to improve. We are not creating enough chances or building up the game fast enough,” he added.
