Mata optimistic over Manchester United’s title chances

During the Champions League encounter at Old Trafford Van Gaal’s decision to substitute Anthony Martial with Marouane Fellaini was roundly booed and chants calling on the team to attack were heard throughout.

Nevertheless, victory over the Baggies would take United to within a point of the top of the table, which, along with a goal from a fellow academy graduate, might draw a rare smile from Scholes and the sceptics.

It could have been a day to forget for Van Gaal had Saido Berahino not wasted a free header less than two minutes after he came off the bench. “I try to enjoy it as much as I can every time I play and get the fans off their feet, and try to score a few goals”.

“I can only advise the fans to criticise the manager and not the players”, he said. When you are yelling “attack, attack, attack” and you attack for 85 minutes, you have to think as a fan, is it alright to yell that. United have now gone 555 minutes without leaking a goal – over nine hours – and is their best defensive record since keeping 8 clean sheets from December 2004 – January ’05.

It was a big win for Manchester United as they took down West Bromwich Albion.

As for West Brom, they are likely to have Chris Brunt available for selection after he recovered from a knock but goalkeeper Ben Foster remains unavailable with a serious knee injury. Neither, though, are likely to play on Saturday, with Foster still coming back from a long-term injury and Lindegaard now backing up Boaz Myhill.

Follow all the live action as Manchester United face West Brom in a Premier League clash at 15:00 BST at Old Trafford. Sky Sports will show the match in full later the same evening, however.

“A title challenge? Let’s see about that one, as there are still too many games until the end of the season”. He likes to be involved in all the sessions and he sets high standards.

“That is why I have sold a lot of players and have a lot out on loan”. He was [enjoyable to work with]. I’ll be writing him a letter and asking him where my £8,000 is going.

Prediction: This is unlikely to be a thrilling spectacle for anyone concerned.

The home side dominated possession from the start, with Lingard and Mata both trying to cross the ball in from out wide, but West Brom had numbers back to make sure their opponents did not get ahead early on.

Scholes has been critical of Van Gaal’s United team by claiming they’re “boring” to watch and that the best strikers in the world would struggle because they don’t create enough chances.