Manchester United beat Aston Villa 1

The 29-year-old has failed to score in United’s first two Premier League fixtures of the season and looked off the pace in Friday’s 1-0 victory over Aston Villa.

The Red Devils kept up their winning start to the campaign with victory Villa Park on Friday night, which moved them top of the Premier League standings. “Also from Memphis (Depay), a lot of ball losses and that’s why there were not a lot of chances”.

“In the second half, especially after the substitutions, I think we controlled the game and could have scored more goals”.

In two widely underwhelming attacking performances so far this season, Manchester United have built their success on defensive displays that have not been typical of them over the last couple of years.

“It’s hard to win away games in England and we did it. Last year we drew here, so I’m very happy”.

“In the second half, especially after the substitution, we controlled the game and maybe we should have scored more goals”.

Another United new boy Memphis Depay should have sealed the win, missing a glorious chance when Mata picked him out with another lovely pass but Villa, who had also won their opening game 1-0 at Bournemouth, had long since run out of ideas.

De Gea’s absence means that Van Gaal will likely hand a first start to Argentinian shot stopper Sergio Romero who United signed from Sampdoria in the summer.

After drifting to the left flank from the right, Mata released Januzaj with a brilliant through ball and the Belgian left Micah Richards on the turf with a sharp turn before beating Guzan with the aid of a deflection off Ciaran Clark.

He added: “It’s only rumours, I am happy here and of course I am going to fight for my place”.

De Gea has been persistently linked with a move to Real since last season, with Van Gaal questioning the Spaniard’s focus of late.

In a game brought forward due to a request from West Midlands Police, with a march being staged in Walsall on Saturday, Villa lacked a cutting edge as their wait for a first home league win over United since 1995 goes on.

“It takes time, we expected that but what they do give me is everything”. It’s not flawless, but they will improve.

“We only gave one chance away this evening and that was very good“, Van Gaal said.