Van Gaal scouting global left-back

Can United win the league?

“In football you always have 90 to 93 minutes. you always have to believe”.

United suffered a blow midway through the half when Herrera pulled up injured while chasing down Ikechi Anya and had to be replaced by Rojo.

The record of almost 3,800 consecutive games with at least one home-grown player in the match-day squad is still proudly running and Lingard, possibly the most exciting young player to come through at Old Trafford since Danny Welbeck in 2008, together with 18-year-old Connor Borthwick-Jackson, who made his debut in the game with West Brom, suggest the production line is still in rude health despite the recent Glazer-led mass investment on high-priced talent.

Van Gaal admitted that he didn’t plan for a horror injury to Shaw in the summer, convinced that the former Saints left-back would have a tremendous season.

Van Gaal was pleased with the result and about how the team did not give up after the goal by Watford and kept poking and prodding till they took the lead again.

There was a solemn moment before the game at Vicarage Road when the players of both sides stood together around the centre circle in silence, while the French national anthem was also played as a mark of respect following last week’s attacks in Paris.

“The second half a little bit less, because he is six weeks out of the team and lacks a few match rhythm so I can understand that”.

So, there we were settling for a 1-0 United victory when Marcos Rojo proved you don’t have to pass an IQ test to get a move to Manchester United. He needed a goal, he got it and Memphis Depay also scored a handsome goal.

Manchester United midfielder Schweinsteiger, whose attempt was deflected in off Deeney in the final minute, said: “The angle was not so easy, but of course (Deeney) touched the ball”.

“In the second half we made a lot of effort to score”. “We are in a lousy period because there are a lot of injuries”, Van Gaal said.

“We are looking at all players, not just Ronaldo”.

At the other end, Depay came close to sealing the victory with a clever attempt which fell just wide after he had been fed by Juan Mata.

After conceding to a late Troy Deeney penalty it seemed that United’s failure to take advantage of their possession was going to cost them two vital points.