Van Gaal proud of Manchester United players in derby draw
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal was delighted with his players after the Red Devils kept a clean sheet against Manchester City despite offering the more attacking threat.
United and City were both looking to go top of the Premier League table on Sunday. However, it was the away fans who achieved their aim with the goaless draw enough to see them go above Arsenal.
The Red Devils started well with Bastian Schweinsteiger, Anthony Martial and Morgan Schneiderlin controlling their battles on the pitch. But where United failed was in the final third where captain Wayne Rooney was given the chance to impress as a lone striker but was dominated by eventual Man of the Match Nicolas Otamendi.
Rooney, 30, was unable to get a grip with the pace of the game and his poor touch and also inability to run in behind was evident. Most fans wanted Martial up top but Van Gaal opted to play the Frenchman out wide where was a threat every time he got the ball. But Van Gaal, 64, was still positive despite United failing to get the victory and admitted that tactics played a huge part in both sides playing well.
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He said, as reported by Manutd.com:
"“I am very proud of my players because I think we played 90 minutes of a tough game. Both sides played a very tactical game. It was very compact and organised, that is how Manchester City played against us. They adapted the line-up against us.“Against Sevilla in the Champions League, they played with two strikers and now they played with one, with one more player in midfield, so it was a tough game. We created more chances but we didn’t finish them and that is the disappointment because you must win these kinds of games for the fans. It is the derby and when you are so focused and so concentrated like we were today then, yeah, you deserve to win. But sometimes you don’t get what you deserve.”"
Both sides were unable to create clear-cut chances and it made for a boring game to a neutral. However, to United and City fans it was a clear indication of how both sides have improved in terms of their defensive shape and their ability to keep out top class attackers for 90 minutes.
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Most impressive for United was Marcos Rojo with the left-back keeping out Kevin De Bruyne for the whole game. He then dealt with Jesus Navas with Chris Smalling and Phil Jones controlling the strong Wilfried Bony.
City’s Otamendi was a monster and bullied Rooney, who is now the talk of the city with many fans wanting him dropped. But Van Gaal backed his striker for his defensive display, something he admitted starts with the captain and then back to the midfield and defence. Asked on whether the defence deserved the praise, he said:
"“Yes, but that is the defensive organisation. That is not only the defence. The defence starts with Wayne Rooney. Our defensive organisation is normally rather good, it was only against Arsenal when it was not good. But that was a very bad start from a lot of players – and Arsenal were very good.”"
United are now in the top four and are two points off City and Arsenal in the race for the title. Their is still a long way to go but the Dutchman added that the derby showed both sides can achieve their aims this season.
"“When you see this game, I think the fans were also very proud of the players because, when I go back to the dressing room, they were applauding us. Also, the fans have seen the way we have played and it was a very controlled game from Manchester United. They are also disappointed, like me, because you have to win against these kind of teams, also for the fans, but the way we have played gives hope for the future,” he added."