Late own goal dooms Man United to loss at Sunderland

Van Gaal, who is widely speculated to face the sack at the end of this season, cut a sorry figure at the press conference. Louis van Gaal decided to make only one substitution, as French defensive midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin replaced Marouane Fellaini in the middle of the park.

When asked how difficult will it be for the Red Devils to make the top four now, Van Gaal responded: “Very difficult, very difficult”.

“I think after this match, (winning the Europa League) is the best route but that’s not so easy”. It’s also our aim.

AS EXPECTED “Today was very similar to the way the Manchester City game went but this time we got what we deserved from the chances we created”, Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce told BT Sport, referring to his team’s 1-0 defeat by Manuel Pellegrini’s men.

Saturday’s defeat to the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light was yet another frustrating showing in a season full of stumbles.

United equalised in the 39th minute when Martial artfully dinked in his 10th goal of the season after Vito Mannone had parried Juan Mata’s shot.

Anthony Martial equalised for United shortly before halftime after Wahbi Khazri’s third-minute free kick evaded De Gea who was embarrassed again eight minutes from time when he diverted Lamine Kone’s header into his own goal.

“They [the players] have got 12 games to prove themselves now and prove they are good enough for Manchester United”, he said on the BBC’s Final Score programme.

A dejected Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea stares at the ground after his own goal results in victory for Sunderland.

Earlier in the week the Dutchman had spoken of the importance of consistency after a strong start to the calendar year, but two goals from set pieces and a slightly lacklustre performance proved to be United’s undoing.

Unfortunately for the player and his increasingly beleaguered manager, there was no happy ending as Louis van Gaal’s side succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at Sunderland.

“We’re getting better at being more resilient”.

“In the past, I was chairman of the coaches federation in the Netherlands and we had a rule that you can never talk with a club without informing the present manager”, he said. “We have to somehow move on”.

“We needed to win this game”. Their first Europa League test comes this upcoming Thursday as they travel to Denmark to take on Midtjylland.