Van Gaal urges reality check at Manchester United

Van Gaal’s injury hit line-up at Bournemouth featured a host of youthful performers and they missed the chance to join Manchester City at the top of the Premier League standings after a jaded display.

“After Manchester United’s embarrassment in the Champions League, let’s spell out the only road to redemption for Louis van Gaal – if he does not win the title this season, he might as well pack his bags”, Savage wrote.

Louis van Gaal admits he is “concerned” by Manchester United’s recent results but insists the team must “stick together” to recover quickly.

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.

“Pace is such an important thing in any league but even more so in the Premier League so I think those two players (King and Stanislas) have had a huge impact in just changing the balance of the team”.

It was a tough break for a United side that started with an average age of 24 because of a mountain of injuries – including Wayne Rooney.

United almost fired straight back with a goal of their own but they were twice denied as Artur Boruc pulled off two point-blank saves from Fellaini and Paddy McNair.

Barely three days after crashing out of the UEFA champions league, Manchester United have once again been subjected to another defeat, but this time to a lowly Bournemouth, who have suddenly turned themselves to giant slayers. But before they can lick their wounds, they have to face Bournemouth, the squad that just defeated the Premier league champions! And I speak from experience, having won it with Atletico Madrid.

It is very disappointing because, in spite of the early goal, we came on very well in the match, scored an equaliser and we created more chances to score a second goal. I really want to pay tribute to his family and how he played, and how courageous he was in his performance.

“I don’t think it is because of that [injuries] we lost”.

“We have those three competitions so we will see how we do at the end of the season”. “It is also hard for Manchester City and Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea or Leicester”.

“Schneiderlin is coming back, that’s not a problem, but we have a list of eight players injured and Rojo has been operated on this week and it takes a long time”. There are too many games when they are not scoring or winning games, such as against West Ham last week.