Van Gaal Blames Injuries For Man Utd Struggles

We have the starting teams for tonight’s FA Cup tie between Derby County and Manchester United, Louis Van Gaal can not afford to lose this match.

“So congratulations to United, they deserved the victory”.

A clever pass from Chris Martin sent Thorne clear in significant space as he raced through the middle of United’s defence and the midfielder smoothly took one touch before beating De Gea with a left-footed strike.

Van Gaal is set to be boosted by the return of Michael Carrick after four games out with a knee injury while according to ManUtd.com, Matteo Darmian is ruled out having been hospitalised with a rib injury last weekend with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Phil Jones also out.

But Clement is relishing the chance to lead his players out against United, who Derby last overcame in the FA Cup in 1897.

Anthony Martial laid on the third for Mata in the 83rd for his sixth goal of the season. Manchester United are all but out of the Premier League title race and have already exited the UEFA Champions League prematurely.

The game was goal-less in the 16th minute when Rooney wrapped his foot around the ball and curled past goalkeeper Scott Carson into the far side of the goal.

Van Gaal opted for Marouane Fellaini again in defensive midfield, with Morgan Schneiderlin alongside him as the buttress in front of the back four.

But he dismissed those suggestions completely on Thursday, with van Gaal saying: “I have not mentioned that, ever”, he said.

Another Blackman shot was just off-target at the start of the second half, while Mata was narrowly wide with a close-range diving header at the other end after Jesse Lingard’s cross deflected into his path.

Derby’s sole FA Cup success came 70 years ago in 1946 – beating Charlton 4-1 (aet) in the first final after the conclusion of World War Two.