Bournemouth boss Howe dismisses United crisis talk

Critics were out in force following United’s defeat in Germany, which saw Dutch league champions PSV Eindhoven progress to the last-16 at United’s expense.

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has claimed that he and his teammates will “fight” for the Europa League after dropping out of the Champions League.

While the former Bayern Munich boss accepts there are certain games this season where he has failed to mastermind the results expected, he has pointed to the strengthening of the Premier League as proof that demanding constant victories is simply unrealistic.

“No. I don’t have any doubts”, Van Gaal said of his ability to win trophies with United.

“Yes, I have to say that in the second half, we played less but that is also I think the reason that we could not dominate the game because they always could have escaped through their striker Joshua King”. But I still believe we have the squad to win the title’.

He added: “We played rather well in the first half and I had the feeling we could win in the second half but then a set play and you are behind in the score and it is very hard to have a revival”.

“For me, the [Europa] League is a big competition”.

Louis van Gaal has addressed frustrated Manchester United fans – and they probably won’t like what he’s had to say.

“I am sure the goals will come and the chances as well”.

“At the moment we are in the top four, we are there”.

The World Cup victor scored his first Red Devils goal in a 1-1 draw with Leicester City last month.

When questioned further, a defensive Van Gaal said: “You have to analyse the club as it is now”.

‘I had some choices to go in England, but in the end I wanted to try something different. “We shall do our job but it is more hard to prepare against Norwich when you have lost twice in a row”. We live now. It is not only hard for Manchester United. I don’t think it is [completely] like that – I can make the difference, in tactics and everything. I think also the players have to do that by themselves.

“They’ve only won three out of 12 in all competitions and that’s not good enough for Manchester United”.

Morgan Schneiderlin returns for Saturday’s game at Bournemouth after overcoming a hip injury, but Wayne Rooney, Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia remain out.