Smalling wants United to show fight at Shrewsbury

Goalkeeper De Gea was set for a scan on Friday after he sustained a knee injury in the warm-up for the previous night’s Europa League defeat at FC Midtjylland.

“I was disappointed when I lost my job after ten months, but we would think Manchester United have always stood for much greater things than sacking their managers regularly”. “But then we have to make them fear us again”.

Van Gaal has come under huge pressure following the losses and says teams no longer fear facing Manchester United.

Winning all three fixtures – with the Europa League result sufficient to send them through – would be a major boost, some momentum having been built up again and the club remaining in the hunt for two trophies as well as a top-four finish.

Van Gaal’s job has been under scrutiny following his side’s repeated poor performances in the Premier League, with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho reportedly in talks to replace him at the Old Trafford.

Instead Man United will kick off versus Shrewsbury Town in the round of 16, and they just found out who their next opponent will be, should they advance.

Van Gaal’s side face Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup on Monday, and he says there can be no excuses for his troops should they fail to progress into the last eight of the competition.

“Maybe”, he added. “I hope so, because then it’s a benefit for us”.

“That I have said also already to the players, because you can not continue with losing games”. “I think that we are capable of winning the FA Cup”.

United have not lifted the FA Cup since 2004.

“It’s not a question of being the favourite”.