Manager van Gaal wants Man U fans to lower expectations

And, writing in a column for The National, Forlan said: “Louis van Gaal needs to win the Premier League this season”. Van Gaal believes fans and critics must be more realistic about instant success as he possesses a young team with new signings that are still gelling, telling The Telegraph the ugly truth.

“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”.

Van Gaal has defended his philosophy after repeated criticism from former Old Trafford midfielder Paul Scholes this season, and said on Friday that he has no doubts about his ability to manage United or meet the club’s “very high” expectations. “But that’s the past”.

This time United had no response and had Bournemouth substitute Glenn Murray not spurned two good late chances, the scoreline would have been even more embarrassing for Van Gaal and his players. But I didn’t read it. I didn’t see that you say anything positive for (Guillermo) Varela or (Cameron) Borthwick-Jackson.

“The facts are this – we are out of the group stage and, yes, I am very sorry”.

Kelechi Iheanacho’s fortuitous stoppage-time goal gave Manchester City a 2-1 home win over managerless Swansea City on Saturday (Dec 12) that provisionally sent Manuel Pellegrini’s side top in the Premier League. But other clubs are asking for much more from us than from Bournemouth.

“Of course it’s disappointing if you lose two matches in a row in an important week, so now we have to stay there in a position to keep fighting”, he said.

United certainly did not help themselves, with Anthony Martial showing signs he is lacking in confidence when he pulled his shot wide after being sent clear by Stanislas’s misdirected back-pass. We scored the goals; then they are cancelling [out our] goals.

Ghana global Christian Atsu took to social media to express his pleasure for AFC Bournemouth’s English Premier League win on Saturday.

Accumulated expenditure for Van Gaal’s side added up to an eye-watering €533 million, which must beg the question, are United really getting value for money?

“That makes a big difference”.

“For us, it’s just been a brilliant week”. The bottom clubs can beat the top teams.

The schedule for Week 17 picks up on December 19 and some of the games include Manchester United against Norwich City, Chelsea against Sunderland and Southampton against Tottenham. The Cherries shocked the football world by defeating Premier League champions, Chelsea, 1-0. “Okay. I think the same but the reality is that is not happening”. But I have done everything I could, as have my players and my board.

“The sting in the tail for us was that because we were out of the Cup, we had no game on the fourth round weekend so the club organised for us to fly out to Libya or somewhere like that to play an exhibition game!”

The club from the seaside town faced financial ruin twice in the last 20 years and was on the brink of relegation to the fifth tier six years ago.