adminLONDON. — Louis van Gaal’s resurgent Manchester United will have their eyes on third place in the Premier League table when they tackle Ronald Koeman’s sputtering Southampton at St Mary’s tonight.
After winning only three of their first seven league games, a run of four consecutive victories has taken United to within touching distance of early-season surprise package Southampton.
Koeman’s side shot up the table by winning eight of their nine games between late August and early November, but a draw at Aston Villa and losses to Manchester City and Arsenal extinguished their momentum.
“Southampton play better at this time and have more points at this moment than Liverpool, so I think it’s good that we have to play Southampton now,” the United manager said.
“I think they have a good squad, a lot of players that I know and who were offered to us. I think they are able to come in the top four, but that’s also because I believe in the management of Ronald Koeman and his brother (Erwin).” Van Gaal’s relationship with his fellow Dutchman Koeman provides one of the sub-plots for Monday’s game.
Koeman (51) successfully worked under 63-year-old Van Gaal at Barcelona, but the pair fell out at Ajax in 2004, when Koeman was coach and Van Gaal technical director.
Van Gaal described Koeman as “weak” in his autobiography, but the two men have refused to discuss their relationship in the build-up to the game, with both declaring the matter “private”. Of more pressing concern for Koeman is the spate of injuries that has afflicted his side during their three-game winless run. — AFP.
Online Reporter