Speaking to the media after Manchester United‘s 2-1 defeat to FC Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday evening, Louis van Gaal has explained why the Red Devils lost.
“I have explained that we have to cope with a list of 14 injured players and that’s not easy,” the Dutch coach began, with quotes reported by the Mirror. “I have to make another line-up every week more or less, and that isn’t contributing to confidence,” he continued.
“I think it’s Murphy’s law. When you have a list of 13 injured players and a few minutes before the game we add another player to the list, then it is difficult to cope.”
Indeed, there is some reason to have sympathy with van Gaal, who was without a series of top stars for the demoralising defeat.
Wayne Rooney looks set to be sidelined for the best part of two months, while David De Gea was injured ahead of the match and it remains to be seen how long the goalkeeper will be absent for.
The likes of Luke Shaw, Ashley Young, Antonio Valencia, Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, Matteo Darmian, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Marouane Fellaini are just some of the names currently out of action for the Red Devils, leaving the EPL strugglers much weakened.
Indeed, youngsters such as Donald Love and Patrick McNair were included from the star against Midtjylland, and neither equipped themselves particularly well.
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United took the lead through Memphis Depay, but were pinned back through Pione Sisto, before Ebere Paul Onuachu scored the winner late on to leave United’s hopes of Europa League progression in jeopardy.
“We scored a goal but we also gave a goal away one minute before half-time, and that’s a difficult time to concede.
“In the second half ,they were winning every ball and that’s very disappointing because you know in advance that is the key to this game. Then they scored and, when you see how they scored, it’s a little bit unnecessary in my opinion.
“But we still have a chance, I think, in the second leg.”