Jesse Lingard reveals what Louis van Gaal told his players at half

A Wayne Rooney header gave United a 1-0 win in the Champions League on Tuesday, but not before the home fans voiced their displeasure. In fact, in 2012-13, when United last won the title, they had let in 17 goals by this stage of the campaign.

The Old Trafford faithful were clearly nervous as their side looked to be heading towards another drab goalless draw.

While Van Gaal’s side dominated the proceedings from the word go at Old Trafford, pushing for a goal to calm the nerves around the stadium, they were booed off at the break following yet another goalless half.

“I want to see United blast teams away with brilliant attacking football, have players with creativity and players who get you on the edge of your seat”, he said.

The England midfielder said: “There are things as a team that we do different to how we did them in the past but to me that’s just obvious when you have a new manager and he has different beliefs”.

“(Seydou) Doumbia’s chance was the only attack of CSKA Moscow that a player of Manchester United stepped in on the wrong way, and then David de Gea has saved us”, the manager said.

Many feel the possession-based football they are playing under Louis van Gaal doesn’t suit Manchester United and they should revert to a more cavalier approach. It was a fantastic goal; the preparation was fantastic.

“I’m very happy because I put Rooney again in the striker’s position and he scored”. “To equal his goalscoring record is a huge honour for me”, Rooney told United’s official website. I think they are passing the ball really well, (Michael) Carrick has been brilliant passing the ball into the forwards which is what we want. But that’s also football, that you are running everything out of your body to prevent goals. “Ashley Young was also doing that [behind Smalling] – it was a great sliding tackle”.

“When you move the ball so slowly, no matter how many men you get forward, it allows the opposition time to set and get players back”.

Rooney, whose form had been questioned after scoring only two Premier League goals this season, flashed an effort fractionally wide after three minutes and then nearly latched on to an under-hit back pass before Akinfeev cleared the danger.