Manchester United: Louis van Gaal's 5 Strangest Tactical Decisions

Manchester United: Louis van Gaal’s 5 Strangest Tactical Decisions

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 17: Manager Louis van Gaal of Manchester United walks off at halftime during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 Second Leg match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on March 17, 2016 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images) /

3 of 6

WOLFSBURG, GERMANY – DECEMBER 08: Naldo (L) of VfL Wolfsburg scores his team’s third goal during the UEFA Champions League Group B match between VfL Wolfsburg and Manchester United FC at Volkswagen Arena on December 8, 2015 in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) /

4. Wolfsburg 3-2 Manchester United

“Nick Powell for Juan Mata” is all that needs to be said here.

In a game where United had to win in order to progress to the Champions League knockout stages, Van Gaal decided to withdraw his most creative and inventive attacker in favour of a young fringe player who had only just returned from a long-term injury.

It was a remarkable substitution, not least because Mata had played a fairly decent game, sliding the ball through to Martial for United’s opener.

After the switch, United – unsurprisingly – seemed to lose impetus, fell to defeat and dropped into the Europa League. It wasn’t Powell’s fault, but as tactical decisions go, it was frightening and amusing in equal measure.

Next: United 0-1 West Brom

Home/Manchester United News