Louis van Gaal: Manchester United Winning Every Game Is in ‘the Past’

“I think he’s handled himself with real dignity throughout the process, and to play the way he did today, with the emotions running through his body, I can’t credit him enough for that”.

The 22-year-old had to be replaced by Andreas Pereira after just half an hour, when United had only just equalised through Marouane Fellaini after Junior Stanislas had earlier scored directly from a corner.

And the critics will be sharpening their knives again following Saturday’s reverse at the Vitality Stadium – United’s first league defeat since October.

The Cherries’ rise – their win puts them up to 14th, a point and a place above Chelsea – may have surprised some people but not King, who after signing for United as a 16-year-old never made the grade there as he was waylaid by injuries. “I’d practised it (the corner routine) a bit and missed it every time”.

Louis van Gaal admits Manchester United must bounce back immediately from defeat at Bournemouth if they are to retain any hope of challenging for the Premier League title.

Asked if he could ever have imagined successive wins over Chelsea and Manchester United, he said: “I could, with the players we’ve got and the manager (Eddie Howe) we’ve got”.

“At half-time I spoke about how we have to do it in the second half and I don’t talk about the past”, he added. The Dutchman has been forced to field an unorthodox back four against Bournemouth in the shape of Guillermo Varela, Paddy McNair, Daley Blind and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, and there have also been events outside of his ranks that highlight certain transfer issues.

“I think I probably prefer to focus on the week rather than the individual games”, said Howe.

Frustrated boss Van Gaal blasted the sloppy defending that led to Bournemouth’s victory, insisting United must heed a “strong lesson” from Dean Court defeat. Everyone is contributing. The big thing was the way we played without the ball, the work ethic versus Manchester United and Chelsea is crucial because you know you won’t have much of the ball.

“We have now to win three matches in a row for example, to be there still after Christmas”.

“So to get the return we have has been hugely lifting for everybody”.