Premier League week 17: Manchester United 1-2 Norwich City
Louis van Gaal may be in danger after the new home loss to modest Norwich City. More than anything, it emphasize on a very terrible period and month for Manchester United. The importance of the month of December is critical in the Premier League and adding up to thew Champions League elimination, van Gaal’s days at the head of the club may be counted. He reacted on the loss:
“We were not good enough to win; that is a fact, we have lost. The fans are expecting that we win and we expect the same. We have never lost this season at home and we are in a bad period and you can see what (a lack of) confidence is doing to my players. We have to stick together now and come out of this bad period, but you have seen this is not so easy.
I have to say I like the attitude of the fans because, after the 2-0 scoreline, they stood behind the players and they were supporting the team, which is the most important thing and I was pleased with that. Of course they were disappointed and are yelling after this defeat, but we are just as frustrated that we haven’t won this game. We had two big chances (after the Martial goal): the fantastic cross from Ashley Young, which we have to score, and also the Smalling chance. We created the chances but we didn’t finish them and I have said that for a long time.
It is possible to turn this (bad form) around because of the many matches we have coming up, but it is difficult. We have to show our professional attitude and to come out of this very bad period. What you have seen today is what a lack of confidence can do. It was not good enough and it was our first defeat at Old Trafford [this season] and that makes it remarkable. It is also confirmation that we are in a very bad period which we have to come out of. This is difficult or we would have done that today.
“You have to win against Norwich City, you have to win every home match. The problem is how we come out of this bad period. That can be done when we stick together, not just the players, manager and staff but the fans – that is very important. Everything I say about the defeat is one word too much because the expectation is that we beat Norwich and we didn’t do that.
“To show your professional attitude is the only way you can get our confidence back. Of course we have to evaluate what we have done today and how we have prepared for this match and so on. Tomorrow we shall do that as staff, as a team, to make it better for Stoke City in the next game, then the same for two days later against Chelsea“.
