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MANCHESTER. – Louis van Gaal has challenged his Manchester United players to replicate their impressive home form on the road ahead of a testing New Year’s Day visit to Stoke City today.
Since losing at home to Swansea City on the opening day of the season, United have turned Old Trafford into a fortress, winning seven and drawing one of the subsequent eight games on their home turf.
But they have won just twice on their travels – victories at Arsenal and Southampton that the demanding Van Gaal concedes were fortunate – and the Dutchman is demanding an improvement in 2015.
“When I’m saying that every week we are improving, then we have to show that against Stoke City,” said the United manager, whose side start the year in third place in the table.
“We have to do it in an away match. We have to dominate in away matches because we have won everything except Swansea City at home, the first match.
“In away matches, (we have beaten) only Arsenal and Southampton; then, we were the lucky team. I have said that also.
“We have to dominate in away matches, and I hear from (assistant coach) Ryan (Giggs) that Stoke City is a very difficult pitch. We have to show that in spite of it being very difficult at Stoke. Maybe we can show that.”
From their long injury list, United have defenders Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw and Rafael da Silva back at full fitness, although winger Angel di Maria is still out with a pelvic problem.- AFP.
Online Reporter