Van Gal glad Man United started 2016 with victory

“Of course now we are playing much more matches but still it is an achievement”. “I think, especially in the last couple of games, we’ve fought hard and we need to kick on like we did today”.

“I hope it is a fantastic starting point for the team, ” Van Gaal said. He was running to the first post and he created the gap for Martial.

“Goals are our problem”, he said. “We were lucky it was wide of our goal because it was a very good header and he was free”.

Alan Curtis, for whom this was a first defeat since taking over as Swansea caretaker, said it was a decent display though not necessarily one deserving of greater reward. He has now scored 51 goals in 109 caps. “You always leave players out because they were less effective”.

Rooney passed Law’s landmark in the same week the Scot received a CBE in the Queen’s New Year Honour List for services to football and charity.

“It was an unbelievable goal from Wayne”.

“I am very happy for him and I hope it shall give him the boost he needs to continue”. It was positive, Anthony Martial in particular was prepared to pick up the ball and run at defenders.

Suddenly United were back to square one but just when they needed him Rooney delivered. “Wayne’s goal, with his left foot behind his other foot, was fantastic”.

But it was Wayne Rooney who had the last laugh. While the latter could prove an easier negotiation, trying to get Lukaku away from Everton would be an nearly impossible task. I give trust to the players. The team have been under a lot of pressure recently, and were desperate to shut off the critics by getting a victory.

The home side broke the deadlock two minutes into the second half, as Anthony Martial headed home Young’s inviting cross from the right flank.

However, the club can not rely on him as heavily as they have been doing in the first half of this season.

Manchester United again started the match brightly with Juan Mata forcing a block from Swansea captain Ashley Williams in the early minutes, but soon lost steam in the first half. We did that today and then, in the second half, they exhausted because we really did press them.

“It’s wonderful that you can perform the game plan like we have done, in a risky style, under this pressure”, he said.