Main PageLVG happy to survive Christmas period
Yeovil - Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal
said the Christmas period had been a triumph for
his team after they beat Yeovil Town to reach the FA
Cup fourth round.
While Sunday's 2-0 win against third-tier opponents
who sat 65 places below them in the league ladder
was to be expected, Van Gaal was pleased to achieve
it, despite picking up two more injured defenders
along the way.
Right-back Rafael da Silva suffered a possible
fractured cheekbone, while left-back Luke Shaw
picked up an ankle problem. Both were substituted
at half-time.
"I'm very happy that we have survived this festive
period because I don't have a big squad because of
all the injuries. I had a small squad," Van Gaal said
after the match.
"I could not change much and in spite of that we
have regained ground on Chelsea by one point (in
the Premier League) after the festive period and we
are in the fourth round of the FA Cup. What more
can a manager wish for?
"I have heard from my fantastic assistant manager
(Ryan Giggs) that Man United have not won the FA
Cup for 10 years and maybe we can do that this year.
But it is a very long way."
Rafael left Yeovil's Huish Park stadium early to have
his injury assessed and Van Gaal praised the
Brazilian for his commitment while sympathising
with his misfortune in getting injured.
"He played through (the pain) because the last few
weeks he didn't play and now he is injured," said the
Dutchman. "He has a fantastic mentality, it's
unbelievable."
Ander Herrera's superb 64th-minute strike from
outside the penalty area put United ahead before a
calm finish from substitute Angel di Maria sealed
United's progress in the final minute of the match.
On Herrera's strike, Van Gaal said: "It's his class. It's
not his first goal from outside the box and it was a
fantastic goal. There was a little bit of luck, but you
need that and I was very happy with him."
Robin van Persie was rested for the game so James
Wilson came into the side to start in attack alongside
Radamel Falcao, with Wayne Rooney playing in
midfield.
United failed to create a decent chance in the first
half, but improved after the break.
Van Gaal was ultimately pleased with how his side
went about their business, and that Di Maria got
some time on the pitch after missing the last two
weeks with hamstring and pelvic problems.
"We didn't have the patience in the first half," he
said. "We wanted to make the first goal too much
and I changed the shape. We had a man more in
midfield then and we kept the ball better.
"We have a lot of pace in our attack and that is why I
selected Wilson and later I gave Di Maria 30
minutes, because he needs to build up his match
rhythm.
"It's not a matter of how far below us they were
because when you see the performance of Yeovil
Town and how they press the ball, the ball was
always under pressure and you can do that with an
amateur team also."
Gary Johnson, the Yeovil manager, had warned his
players not to ask for "selfies" with Rooney and his
illustrious team-mates before the match, but he was
proud of their performance on the day.
"I wanted to make sure we gave them a fright and
we did that," Johnson said.
"When the boys get home, they'll realise what
they've done here. I don't think there was 159 million
($244 million, 203 million euros) between the sides."
said the Christmas period had been a triumph for
his team after they beat Yeovil Town to reach the FA
Cup fourth round.
While Sunday's 2-0 win against third-tier opponents
who sat 65 places below them in the league ladder
was to be expected, Van Gaal was pleased to achieve
it, despite picking up two more injured defenders
along the way.
Right-back Rafael da Silva suffered a possible
fractured cheekbone, while left-back Luke Shaw
picked up an ankle problem. Both were substituted
at half-time.
"I'm very happy that we have survived this festive
period because I don't have a big squad because of
all the injuries. I had a small squad," Van Gaal said
after the match.
"I could not change much and in spite of that we
have regained ground on Chelsea by one point (in
the Premier League) after the festive period and we
are in the fourth round of the FA Cup. What more
can a manager wish for?
"I have heard from my fantastic assistant manager
(Ryan Giggs) that Man United have not won the FA
Cup for 10 years and maybe we can do that this year.
But it is a very long way."
Rafael left Yeovil's Huish Park stadium early to have
his injury assessed and Van Gaal praised the
Brazilian for his commitment while sympathising
with his misfortune in getting injured.
"He played through (the pain) because the last few
weeks he didn't play and now he is injured," said the
Dutchman. "He has a fantastic mentality, it's
unbelievable."
Ander Herrera's superb 64th-minute strike from
outside the penalty area put United ahead before a
calm finish from substitute Angel di Maria sealed
United's progress in the final minute of the match.
On Herrera's strike, Van Gaal said: "It's his class. It's
not his first goal from outside the box and it was a
fantastic goal. There was a little bit of luck, but you
need that and I was very happy with him."
Robin van Persie was rested for the game so James
Wilson came into the side to start in attack alongside
Radamel Falcao, with Wayne Rooney playing in
midfield.
United failed to create a decent chance in the first
half, but improved after the break.
Van Gaal was ultimately pleased with how his side
went about their business, and that Di Maria got
some time on the pitch after missing the last two
weeks with hamstring and pelvic problems.
"We didn't have the patience in the first half," he
said. "We wanted to make the first goal too much
and I changed the shape. We had a man more in
midfield then and we kept the ball better.
"We have a lot of pace in our attack and that is why I
selected Wilson and later I gave Di Maria 30
minutes, because he needs to build up his match
rhythm.
"It's not a matter of how far below us they were
because when you see the performance of Yeovil
Town and how they press the ball, the ball was
always under pressure and you can do that with an
amateur team also."
Gary Johnson, the Yeovil manager, had warned his
players not to ask for "selfies" with Rooney and his
illustrious team-mates before the match, but he was
proud of their performance on the day.
"I wanted to make sure we gave them a fright and
we did that," Johnson said.
"When the boys get home, they'll realise what
they've done here. I don't think there was 159 million
($244 million, 203 million euros) between the sides."
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