Louis van Gaal claims 2015 was “a Very Good Year” and targets title in 2016
Louis van Gaal believes 2015 should largely be regarded as “a very good year” for Manchester United despite their current woes.
United are out of the Champions League and in the middle of their worst run for 26 seasons, but the United manager thinks it would be wrong to judge the year based on their displays in December.
After a dour 0-0 draw against PSV and a stalemate against Leicester, United began the month with a goalless encounter against West Ham.
Defeats against Bournemouth, Norwich, Stoke and Wolfsburg followed – as well as another goalless draw against Chelsea – and all of a sudden United were nine points behind leaders Arsenal in sixth position. Manchester United may be ending the year on a low point, but after guiding the club to fourth last season and adding more “balance” to the squad in the summer, Van Gaal believes the team has moved forward over the last 12 months.
“When you don’t assess December it was a very good year, 2015,” said the United manager, who has spent more than £250million since taking over 18 months ago.
“But you cannot do that because a year has 12 months. I think we have fulfilled the wish and our aim in the first season and after that we have managed to give balance to the team and that resulted in November we were first. Then we are out of the Champions League and that gives us a big blow.”
Those comments may not go down well with the United fans who voiced their concerns about Van Gaal and his style of play long before December.
Some United supporters have booed their team off and implored them to attack during matches after becoming annoyed at the ponderous, possession-based style often on display at Old Trafford.
Despite United’s poor form, Van Gaal still has his eyes on the title.
We need to win because at the end of the season I want to be top, not middle,” Van Gaal said.
Although United failed to beat Chelsea on Monday, the team’s performance in the goalless stalemate was encouraging enough to prevent a fan revolt and save the manager.
Van Gaal admits the pressure is still on him, however, as he cannot afford for the likes of Arsenal, Leicester, Manchester City and Tottenham to break away.
Van Gaal said, “We have to get points otherwise the gap is too big and that is why we have to do what we have to do. 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.”
The pressure on Van Gaal will increase if United fail to beat Swansea at Old Trafford on Saturday.
“You have to show it for 90 minutes against the resistance of the opponent and also under the pressure of the environment and the pressure you put yourself under,” said Van Gaal, who has lost all three games against Swansea since becoming United manager.
“And you have to cope with that. I was three times lost against Swansea, and then you have to evaluate why you lost. It is always like that, then you continue with the same vicious circle of working.”
“There is no magic, it is looking at what has happened and what can improve, as a team but also as an individual player.”
Jesse Lingard remains a doubt for the game on Saturday.
