Man United players ‘left bemused by Louis van Gaal’s decision to substitute

Despite that, United remain in the title race in one of the most open Premier League seasons in recent memory.

The Premier League is the toughest competition, this is the reality.

“It is clear that for a certain period of time, while he is rebuilding the team, we have to accept playing in a certain way which perhaps isn’t the Manchester United way”.

Frustrated fans at Old Trafford have taken to chanting “Attack, attack, attack!” in an effort to rouse their team, while there were calls for Van Gaal to be sacked on late-night radio phone-ins after Tuesday’s game.

“I couldn’t care less about whether we play Manchester United or someone else in the Europa League, that’s in the future”.

They are Manchester United players, show a bit of character.

“It’s always hard (to drop into the Europa League)”. We’re creating a lot of chances, we’re just lacking that end product.

Rooney, Chris Smalling, Matteo Darmian, Phil Jones, Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia, Marcos Rojo, Ander Herrera, Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger are all set to be unavailable.

It was a game that could have gone either way but the hosts ensured they finished top of the group, sending United into the Europa League – with the last-32 draw taking place on Monday.

“We are very disappointed. You’re looking at people looking at you and thinking, ‘Ah, you’re not good enough'”.

“We should have defended better, been more tight and more aggressive”. -Bournemouth have scored four goals in their last two league games, all from the 80th minute or later.

“There’s nothing we can do about that”.

The manager’s tactics have strengthened the defence and made United harder to beat, domestically at least, but there is obvious frustration on the pitch with slow and tedious build-up play that can only be an instruction from the bench given the innate quality of the players.

But Van Gaal launched an impassioned defence of his management at his weekly press conference.

Van Persie endured an indifferent season, scoring only 10 times and he also suffered six separate injuries or illnesses.

But the defender confirmed yesterday morning he had gone under the knife.