Wednesday, August 27, 2014

CAPITAL ONE CUP: VAN GAAL NOT SHOCKED BY MANCHESTER UNITED EXIT

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal insists he was not shocked after his side suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at MK Dons in the Capital One Cup second round.

Louis van Gaal
Van Gaal not shocked

The League One club pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history as two goals apiece from Will Grigg and Benik Afobe sent United crashing out.
But Van Gaal was brutally honest when asked if the cup capitulation had left him stunned.

"I am not shocked. Because I know what can happen," he said. "A new team is not built in one month."
"I also think Milton Keynes played very well, very aggressively and they had a little bit of luck with the goals."
A Jonny Evans error gifted Will Grigg a first half opener and the MK Dons striker chested in a second after the hour mark. Arsenal loanee Benik Afobe then hit his own double to compound United's misery as the away side managed just two shots on target all match.
Van Gaal said he wanted to look at "the second team and youth education" after Sunday's 1-1 draw with Sunderland and would analyse the mistakes which "gave the match away."
He said: "We made too many errors. I have no regrets about my selection but the changes were risky.
"I changed the way we played in the first half. We played one versus one over the whole pitch and when you see that. we created a lot of chances, but we were not lucky."
Former Netherlands boss Van Gaal took over at Old Trafford in the summer following last season's seventh-placed finish, their worst in Premier League history.
United's spending has reached £131.7m in this transfer window following the signing of Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid for £59.7m on Tuesday.
The loss at Stadium MK came with six internationals in the starting line up and follows a home defeat against Swansea on the opening day of the Premier League campaign and Saturday's draw at Sunderland.
When asked to elaborate on why he was not shocked by his side's capitulation against MK, he referred to the "rebuilding process" he was overseeing at the 13-time Premier League champions.
"It is very difficult when you start as a manager in the Premier League with a home loss and then a draw and then after that you lose in a cup match," said the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager.
"For the fans, it is very difficult to still believe in the philosophy of Louis van Gaal.
"But you have to do that because I am here and I am here to build up a new team. The process needs time. "We know exactly what we are doing.
"We have lost in the Capital One Cup, so tonight has cost us the chance of a trophy, and that is disappointing."
Van Gaal suggested that Argentina international Di Maria could be an option out wide, should he stick with the wing-back system he has adopted in his first three games in charge, even though the 26-year-old has mainly featured in an advanced central role in recent seasons.
"I have bought Di Maria because he can play inside and wide. It's very handy," said the Dutchman.
"When I was coach at Bayern Munich, I bought Arjen Robben and he could also play on the wings and inside. Then I always had the opportunity to change."
MK Dons boss Karl Robinson, meanwhile, enjoyed MK Dons' biggest win since they formed in 2004.
"I'm shocked. I know everyone is gong to write about Manchester United and I think that's a bit unfair," he said.
"I'll be honest in the second half I felt comfortable. We came to play football and play the right way - the way we want to play.
"We're a football club that is going places."

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