Van Gaal focusing on weekend derby

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal urged his players to put the disappointment of Europa League elimination by Liverpool behind them by defeating Manchester City in this weekend's derby.

Thursday's exit cut off one potential avenue to the Champions League next season and with United four points behind City, which occupies the fourth and final qualifying berth in the Premier League, van Gaal knows a loss at Etihad Stadium on Sunday could be fatal.

"We have to beat Manchester City because that is the other chance to qualify ourselves for the Champions League," the manager told his post-match media conference at Old Trafford.

With the FA Cup now the only competition United can win, van Gaal was asked if failure to overcome Liverpool had increased the pressure on both him and his team.

"The pressure was also today," he replied. "Manchester United always has pressure. The expectations are always high. The pressure for these players is always very high. We know that and we can cope with that.

"We have played like Liverpool played in the home match with us. We have done that with them. We created a lot of chances. We scored a penalty. (Jesse) Lingard, (Juan) Mata, (Marouane) Fellaini, Martial had chances, and then you concede one goal.

"That's what we did not do in Liverpool. They scored the away goal. That was the difference.

"I am not angry, I am not frustrated. I was very proud of my players. They have given everything.

"I was very pleased the fans also recognized that because they applauded after the match in spite of the fact we are out of the Euro League.

"That was remarkable, I think."

While van Gaal braced himself for more inquests about his United stewardship, Jurgen Klopp remains on course to finish his first season at Liverpool with a trophy in his hands.

AFP

(China Daily 03/19/2016 page12)