Manchester United fans are the best: Van Gaal

Published January 1, 2016
Louis Van Gaal has been the target of strong media criticism. — AFP/File
Louis Van Gaal has been the target of strong media criticism. — AFP/File

LONDON: Much-travelled Louis van Gaal has coached some of the biggest clubs in world football but Manchester United's fans are the best he has come across, the Dutch veteran said on Thursday.

The 64-year-old former Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam supremo has been the target of strong media criticism following United's run of eight matches without a victory in all competitions.

Van Gaal, however, hailed the “fantastic” reaction of the United supporters.

“I've had bad periods at all my clubs and I have to say the best fans are here at Manchester United,” he told reporters ahead of Saturday's home game with Swansea City.

“In such a difficult period, they were applauding the performance of the players and that's fantastic.”

United have slipped to sixth in the Premier League, nine points behind joint leaders Arsenal and Leicester City, and Van Gaal is aware his team have an urgent need to arrest their slide.

“We have to get points otherwise the gap is too big,” said the Dutchman.

“We have to work, prepare the game, perform and then evaluate the game again.

“That is, of course, much more difficult when you don't win than when you win. We need to win because we want to be at the top of the league, not the middle,” added Van Gaal.

United dominated their 0-0 draw with champions Chelsea at Old Trafford on Monday but were again undone by sub-standard finishing from their attacking players.

“We've had many games like that,” said Van Gaal, who has also twice coached the Dutch national team.

“The way we've played this season, we're more or less always the dominant team.

“Certainly at home we have played many, many matches like that but we don't score and that is our problem — goals are the most important thing,” he added.

Opinion

Editorial

Falling temperatures
Updated 04 Jan, 2025

Falling temperatures

Vitally important for stakeholders to acknowledge, understand politicians can still challenge opposing parties’ narratives without also being in a constant state of war with each other.
Agriculture census
04 Jan, 2025

Agriculture census

ACCURATE information relating to agricultural activities is vital for data-driven future planning, policymaking, as...
Biometrics for kids
04 Jan, 2025

Biometrics for kids

ALTHOUGH the move has caused a panic among weary parents mortified at the thought of carting their children to Nadra...
Kurram peace deal
03 Jan, 2025

Kurram peace deal

It is the state’s responsibility to ensure that people of all sects can travel to and from the district without fear.
Pension reform
03 Jan, 2025

Pension reform

THE federal government has finally implemented several parametric reforms introduced in the last two budgets to...
The Indian hand
03 Jan, 2025

The Indian hand

OFFICIALS of the Modi regime were operating under a rather warped sense of reality, playing out Bollywood fantasies...