AFTER WATCHING HIS side snatch a draw away to West Brom, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admitted the team are a long way from where he would like them to be.
Speaking to SKY Sports in the direct aftermath of the 2-2 result, the Dutchman admitted that a tally of 12 points from 8 games was not good enough:
It’s not good – when we see the games – normally we’re the better team. When you have 12 points from 8 games – it’s 8 points too few.”
United may have extended their unbeaten run to three games but they could easily have suffered a defeat at the Hawthorns – only Daley Blind’s 87th-minute equaliser prevented it. But despite rescuing a point late on, Van Gaal was deeply unhappy that his side failed to take more from a game he felt they dominated.
“I’m very disappointed. We played our best away match of the season but the result is not good enough. I have to be happy because we created a lot of chances but we gave it away because of individual errors. It was possible to win here.”
The hosts began brightly and got in behind United regularly – scoring after eight minutes through Stephane Sessegnon. The Dutchman singled out his full-backs for criticism regarding United’s early difficulties.
They (West Brom) were more narrow in midfield but then our lateral defenders (full-backs) have to push up – but they gave them too much space.”
The much-maligned Marouane Fellaini was introduced at half-time and had an instant impact, thumping a superb strike to the roof of the net to equalise just moments after the restart. Van Gaal admitted he had made his mind up to bring on the Belgian after thirty minutes.
“After 30 mins. I told him to look at what (Ander) Herrera was doing and that I wanted him to play. But I put him on the other side because we had (Angel) Di Maria sending in the crosses. He scored at once and made a very good play. Herrera has played normal – not very good but normal. We have to look at physical balance – maybe that’s our problem. I’m a coach thinking of creative players but in England, you need physical bodies. Fellaini is one.”
