Louis van Gaal: Man Utd boss denies needing a new striker

Louis van Gaal feels his Manchester United team made the wrong choices in the final third in their 0-0 draw against Newcastle United earlier today.

Louis van Gaal insists Manchester United chief Ed Woodward is not to blame for the failure to sign Barcelona star Pedro.

“If we had wanted Pedro, it [the deal] was not a problem [to complete] but when Manchester United wants a player he shall come”.

United have successfully completed deals for Memphis Depay, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Matteo Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin and goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

United have kept clean sheets in both their Premier League encounters against Tottenham and Aston Villa this season and have conceded just one goal so far, in their 3-1 win against Brugge in their Champions League qualifying playoff.

“I think we can be satisfied about the performance but not about the result because we don’t reward ourselves”, Van Gaal told BT Sport. I am really impressed with the facilities.

“It is great to be playing with him, he can beat a man and he likes the attacking support from me as well – which is something I like to do”, the 20-year-old said. I’ve experienced this (criticism) before and the goals will come, I know that. “The performance was good and the fans were always behind the players”, Van Gaal added. “I wouldn’t attach the importance that some people are attaching to the amount of games he’s already played”.

United have only scored twice in their first three league games, but Van Gaal said: “We were three times the best team”.

“I can not answer that question (on Mane) either because if I do then I interfere and I don’t want to interfere”.

He did find the back of the net in the opening stages – only for his effort to be adjudged marginally offside. “I don’t think anyone has to doubt him because he has proven for many years that he is the right person in the right spot”, Van Gaal said in his media briefing ahead of Saturday afternoon lunchtime kickoff at home to Newcastle United. I think Benteke would have been a very good buy for Manchester United because he’s an out and out centre-forward and Rooney can then afford to go deep and play off the centre-forward.

De Gea’s contract may be up next summer and he could end up joining Real for free in 2016, but Van Gaal insists United will not sell him in this window.