Van Gaal wants Man Utd to prove themselves in Champions League

We know it will be hard to get the ball and we have to be aggressive to get the ball. “Because of that now we are three points behind Leicester City because we don’t score one goal today and that is the difference”.

“They are third in the league. We know over two games in the knockout stages, anything can happen and we really want to get there, step up and give our best”, he added.

United could desperately do with such a deadly finisher in their ranks on Tuesday.

The Red Devils were heavily criticised after last Saturday’s goalless draw at West Ham United, their eight game in which their failed to score goals.

If Van Gaal’s team lose then they can still qualify for the knockout stages, but only if CSKA win. “He will play possession and want to calm the game down”.

Van Gaal, 64, is due to retire at the end of next season but United are suggested to be open to extending his stay at Old Trafford.

United will be without captain Wayne Rooney, who is still recovering from an injured ankle, and need to at least match PSV Eindhoven’s result at home to CSKA Moscow to progress from Group B.

“We have a huge Champions League match at Wolfsburg”, Van Gaal told the club’s United Review magazine. It’s only important that we show United that we can eliminate them.

In a bid to point out United are “dominating and creating” during games, the Dutchman hit out at his strikers’ inability in front of goal.

It is clearly a tough period for Louis van Gaal’s side but Mata, writing to the fans on his blog, has rallied the troops.

“That is always hard when you are playing for a team like Manchester United because the expectations are very high”.

“I believe that in every match we have played he could have played better”, said the former Netherlands coach. That’s a normal issue but you can’t score every chance and when you see how many players get chances in our team, it’s not a fixed person.

Defeat would be disastrous for Manchester United tonight.

“You never know that for sure but I have the experience as a manager that the goals shall come”, insisted Van Gaal.

Like it or lump it, Martial will have to deal with that pressure on Tuesday.