Louis van Gaal witnessed what was quite possibly, the worst performance of his Manchester United team, since he joined at the start of last season.
Arsenal tore Manchester United apart in the first 20 minutes, taking the lead by 3 goals to 0, with very little response from the United players.
In an interview with MUTV, following the Arsenal game, Louis van Gaal expressed his amazement at how Arsenal defeated his team and, that the International break has come at the least opportune time.
Here’s the how Louis van Gaal sees the current situation:
On the nature of the defeat
“I didn’t expect that. I was surprised. No performing our game-plan, no will to win. We were top of the league so I was surprised – maybe ‘amazed’ is a better word. When you give a team like Arsenal so much space to play football, you know you shall lose.”
“We have prepared ourselves in that way, to play more compact but not to lose our aggression. It was amazing for me and very disappointing. The players are in an emotional moment because we have lost.”
“We have lost in a way you cannot lose when you are top of the league. You cannot start like that.”
On Arsenal
“The midfielders, especially [Santi] Cazorla and [Mesut] Ozil, had too much space and they have the quality to make the most of it.”
“We lost every duel, every second ball. We were not tight on their midfielders, and they can play because they are a fantastic team. We have to do better as a team.”
“The defence starts with the attacker. We have to be more compact against teams like Barcelona, PSG and Arsenal, but with the same aggression.”
Did Bastian Schweinsteiger play further forward?
“That was in the second half, not the first half. In the second half, he had to play against Cazorla, because he [Cazorla] had too much freedom and that’s why Bastian was playing more in front.”
“When he did that in the second half it was better, but you never know if Arsenal slowed down.”
On United’s fans
“I always send the players to the fans because they are there always. They always support us. Despite the 3-0 loss, they supported us.”
“I think you always have to thank them – not only now, when we have lost 3-0, but when we have won, too, when it is more easy.”
Biggest concern after the match?
“My biggest concern is that the players are flying out from London because they have to go to their national teams, so we cannot prepare for the match against Everton.”
“I have to wait to see if the players are fit enough but also mentally fit enough to play. We cannot train because they are coming back on Wednesday and Thursday, so it is much better to win and then you can prepare the next game.”
“Before the last international break we lost against Swansea City, but we won against Liverpool after it, so we can do it, but today was a shock for me.”
Manchester United travel to Goodison Park, after the international break, to face Everton, a team that has often stifled the Red Devils.
