adminMANCHESTER. – Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has told supporters not to worry about today’s clash with fierce rivals Liverpool by declaring: “We will win on Saturday”.
In a candid chat with BBC’s Dan Walker, Van Gaal reassured fans following their English Premier League defeat to Swansea.
He stopped short of saying they could win the league, believing a second or third place finish is more realistic and announced that he expects Ryan Giggs to succeed him as manager at Old Trafford.
Van Gaal and Giggs were addressing an audience of executive United season ticket holders at Lancashire County Cricket ground on Wednesday evening.
Questioned about the loss to Swansea, van Gaal said: “I am sorry, the defeat, was my fault. Don’t worry, we will win on Saturday.”
Van Gaal, who saw his United side beat Liverpool 3-0 at Old Trafford and win 2-1 at Anfield last season, said he expected United to challenge on all fronts this term.
However, he stopped short of claiming United will win the title. “No, maybe third or second place is realistic but I expect us to go for it next season,” he said.
Van Gaal added that he believed United’s support was the best in the world: “At Barcelona when the team is losing fans wave their white hankies, Munich fans start whistling and at Ajax the fans call for the previous manager.
“Manchester United fans get behind their manager, they get behind their team. That is why United fans are the best in the world.”
Meanwhile, Anthony Martial is set to make one of the most eagerly awaited debuts in recent English Premier League soccer history when his new club Manchester United cross swords with Liverpool today.
Martial (19) signed from Monaco on transfer deadline day for a reported initial fee of £36 million that could rise to £58 million and the French striker will be expected to enliven an attack that has scored only three goals in four league games.
Liverpool are also short of goals, having netted only twice so far this season, and with each side looking to steady the ship after defeats, there will be pressure to perform on both sets of players.
“Liverpool is the perfect game to have to come back to after the international break,” United assistant manager and former scourge of Liverpool Ryan Giggs said at a supporters’ event this week.
Old Trafford will be bouncing for a late kick-off. All the players are looking forward to it and I’m sure the fans are, too. Liverpool is always a special game and it’s even more special when you win, so we can’t wait.”
Martial, who will wear the number nine shirt, stands to become the first United player to make his debut in a home game against Liverpool since Ernie Thompson in November 1936.
United manager Louis van Gaal has described the fee for Martial as “ridiculous”, but despite having spoken of the need to give him time to settle in, the Dutchman could do with the teenager finding his feet quickly.
Of the three goals United have scored in the league this season, one was an own goal by Tottenham Hotspur’s Kyle Walker and the other was scored by Adnan Januzaj, who is no longer at the club. And while Wayne Rooney returns to Old Trafford after setting a new England scoring record of 50 against Switzerland on Tuesday, he is without a league goal since April.
Van Gaal must also decide whether to restore goalkeeper David de Gea to his starting XI, having sidelined him citing concerns about his focus prior to the collapse of the Spaniard’s proposed move to Real Madrid on deadline day.
In midfield, Michael Carrick is a doubt after withdrawing from England duty with a calf complaint.
While United have looked reasonably solid in defence, it will not have escaped Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers’s attention that makeshift centre-back Daley Blind was bullied by Bafetimbi Gomis during their 2-1 defeat at Swansea City.
Liverpool have a bruising forward of their own these days in Christian Benteke, who scored twice against United for Aston Villa last season, and are likely to look to isolate him against the lightweight Blind. – AFP.
Online Reporter