Louis van Gaal has backed Anthony Martial to end his goal drought and help Manchester United avoid an embarrassingly early Champions League exit.
United are likely to crash out of the Champions League group stages for just the fourth time in history if their patched-up team fails to win in Wolfsburg tonight.
If they draw or lose, United will have to rely on PSV Eindhoven slipping up at home to CSKA Moscow – who have already been eliminated – to make it through to the last 16.
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It is a situation neither Van Gaal nor the United board thought they would be in when the groups were drawn in August. And the United boss concedes dropping into the Europa League would be a big blow.
“It’s very important for the club to continue in the Champions League, and also for the players,” Van Gaal said. “They want to show their qualities at the highest podium. That’s why it’s important.”
Despite having a rich European history and a multi-million pound squad, the odds seem to be stacked against United.
Wolfsburg only need a draw to make the knock-out stages for the first time and until Saturday’s loss to Borussia Dortmund they had embarked on a 29-match unbeaten home run in the Bundesliga.
When Pep Guardiola brought his all-conquering Bayern Munich team to the Volkswagen Arena last season, they lost 4-1.
With seven regulars out injured, Van Gaal has been forced to bring a threadbare squad to Lower Saxony.
Martial will bear the responsibility of ending United’s woeful record in front of goal despite scoring just once in his last 13 matches.
“He is very talented but he is just 20 years old,” Van Gaal said of the forward, who scored four goals in his first four matches following a £36 million (Dh199m) transfer from Monaco in September.
“We have to give him time and that’s always difficult when you are playing for a team like Manchester United because the expectations are very high.
“But I am very convinced that he will continue with his performances, and that he shall score at the right moment again.
“You cannot expect of a 20-year-old player coming to the Premier League that he scores every week.
“I didn’t expect it either. When he came he was accelerating in the start of his campaign at Manchester United. I know that and I have to explain it to everybody because he doesn’t need that pressure to score every match.”
PICS: The #mufc players putting in preparation for tomorrow’s game v Wolfsburg. pic.twitter.com/HOHaQ4SCsR
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 7, 2015
United were booed off following their sixth goalless draw of the season on Saturday, but Van Gaal hopes he will not have to rely on CSKA pulling off a shock win over PSV to qualify.
“We have to be independent of the result of PSV Eindhoven so it’s important we win,” he said.
“I have the experience as a manager that the goals shall come.
“When you are creating chances at the end you shall finish those kind of chances. That’s why we have that belief. It’s a matter of time and I hope we can prove it.”
ANCELOTTI’S INTERESTED
Van Gaal delivered his press conference on the same day Carlo Ancelotti gave the clearest indication yet that he would be interested in becoming United manager.
Ex-Chelsea boss Ancelotti, who was sacked as Real Madrid boss in May and has been linked with the top job at Old Trafford, last month said he would be keen on a return to the Premier League if the right position came up.
And in an interview with The Independent, the 56-year-old Italian said that while he would ideally get back into work next summer, he would be prepared to wait longer – adding: “Of course, for every manager, they would all think of managing Manchester United.”
Carlo Ancelotti: “Of course, for every manager, they would all think of managing Manchester United.” #MUFC
— Kevin Palmer (@kpsundayworld) December 7, 2015
Regarding timescale, Ancelotti said: “I will continue to wait.
“If I don’t find a club with a good project, I can wait.
“What will I do? Watching games, fishing, all these things. But let us see next summer. I will not take a job in mid-season, but I would like to work again next summer.”
