– Louis van Gaal Gaal told MUTV that Manchester United have only one injury for tomorrow’s game – Robin van Persie. The boss revealed it’s too soon to say when he will return.
– Although Michael Carrick returned to the bench last week versus Sunderland, van Gaal told reporters it’s too early for him to start a game.
Adding he was only in the 18 on Saturday because Phil Jones, Luke Shaw and Victor Valdes were missing. “I took a risk with that,” he added. “As a substitute you can play 20 minutes, which he can do.”
ON DI MARIA
“Every player can have that kind of match – Di Maria is not the only player who has suffered a bad day. He can be the best player in the world in the next match, so I think everything is going well. He trained very well and I don’t think there is any problem.”I have already explained that the higher rhythm of the Premier League is one of the most important aspects but he also has to adapt to a new culture, a new environment and that is not always easy.”
WARY OF NEWCASTLE
Van Gaal expects “a very tough game” against the Magpies. “They always play with a very high rhythm, they want to give a lot of energy and the fans are supporting a lot,” he told MUTV.” They want to play football – I like that. I hope it shall be a good game and we shall win.”
LAST TIME OUT VS NEWCASTLE
United’s last game against Newcastle was on Boxing Day, when the Reds won 3-1 at Old Trafford. “I remember the fantastic goal Wayne Rooney made after a fantastic counter”, van Gaal said. “I have seen it again, as always before a match, and I think we played well. The win was well deserved: we could have scored more, but it is always like that.”
UNITED’S RUN-IN
One of the assembled journalists asked van Gaal whether he thinks United have a tough run-in. “You said that before the games at the beginning of the season, when we were 13th – do you remember that?” the manager replied. “And in spite of all the games we had in front of us, we were third. It was 22 November after the game against Chelsea.”
