Manchester United vs Club Bruges today(copied somewhere)
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal admits his side are at
their best when not in possession as he prepares his side for vital
Champions League clash with Club Bruges
- Manchester United beat Club Bruges 3-1 in the first leg of their play-off
- Louis van Gaal believes the game is his most important as United boss
- Dutchman admits his side's 'defensive organisation' has pleased him most
- United have kept clean sheets in their first three Premier League games
- Midfielder Marouane Fellaini will play more as a No 9 or No 10 this season
Louis van Gaal has admitted that his Manchester United team are currently at their best when they don't have the ball.
The
United manager is preparing for what he believes is the most important
game of his Old Trafford tenure as his team look to progress to the
group stages of the Champions League against Club Bruges on Wednesday
night.
Having
won the first leg 3-1 last week, United are heavy favourites to go
through against opponents missing as many as eight regular first team
players.
Wayne Rooney laughs during training as Manchester prepare to take on Club Bruges on Wednesday night
Morgan Schneiderlin, Marouane Fellaini and Adnan Januzaj warm up at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges
Bastian Schweinsteiger and Memphis Depay could both play some part against Club Bruges on Wednesday
Louis van Gaal, pictured alongside Fellaini, admits his side are currently at their best without the ball
United,
however, continue to be criticised for the style of their football with
former midfielder Paul Scholes saying there was 'nothing fantastic'
about the way Van Gaal's team played against Newcastle in the Barclays
Premier League at the weekend.
Asked
at his team's pre-match press conference on Tuesday night what had
pleased him most about his team this season, Van Gaal said: 'Until now,
of course, our defensive organisation.
'I
divide football in to four main moments and we have two moments where
the opponent has the ball and then we are at our best, I think.
'We proved that last year and now we are continuing with a lot of clean sheets so that is very important.
'But we have to improve when we have the ball.
'We have been a little bit unlucky. Liverpool and Arsenal was 0-0 on Monday but you can't say they didn't create anything.
Sergio Romero is expected to keep his place in goal after David de Gea was left at home for the trip to Belgium
Rooney and Depay stretch their legs as United get ready to try and make the Champions League group stage
Manchester United go into Wednesday's game with a 3-1 lead after victory at Old Trafford in the first leg
'Yes,
[this is our most important match]. It's been our aim for more than a
year to be in the Champions League and still we are not yet
participating.
'It's very important. We have to play the game and finish with more goals than our opponents. Then we will be in it.'
Last Tuesday's first leg was only settled when Marouane Fellaini headed in a late goal in injury time.
The
big Belgian sat next to his manager with both ankles heavily strapped
here on Tuesday night but may well start Wednesday's game.
Van
Gaal, meanwhile, revealed that the former Everton player will feature
more as a forward than a holding midfielder this season.
Van Gaal said: 'Marouane can play nine or ten and can also play six or eight.
'But this year he will play more at ten and nine as we have other players who play further back.
'I don't think my players will take it easy in this game. We have the same preparation.
Van Gaal has admitted that Wednesday's game is the most important of his Old Trafford career so far
Luke Shaw and Ashley Young share a joke in training as United get put through their paces in Bruges
Rooney will continue his search for a goal against Club Bruges after failing to score so far this season
Januzaj has been in decent nick but is expected to start from the bench at Bruges' intimidating ground
'Yes, the last goal last week was important. Now we can start this game with more confidence.
'We should have finished it much earlier than we did last week.'
United
travelled with a party of just 18 players on Tuesday. Central defender
Marcos Rojo is still not match fit and he and players such as goalkeeper
David de Gea - left behind on this trip - are not being helped by the
fact United's Under 21 team - used for senior players to gain match
fitness - do not currently have a game for a month.
Van
Gaal said on Tuesday night that this was a problem and added that Rojo
will play in a specially arranged game with a young Ajax team at
Carrington on Thursday.
'The only way to fitness is to play games in the second team,' said Van Gaal.
Depay, Matteo Darmian, Schweinsteiger and Javier Hernandez (L-R) take part in a sprinting drill
Juan Mata is expected to start on Wednesday night as United attempt to put the tie out of Bruges' reach
Fellaini will play in a more attacking role this season after the signings of Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger
'It's the only way back. They will play Ajax on Thursday. They need minutes. Rojo will play 60 minutes.'
Club Bruges manager Michel Preud'homme believes his injury-hit team have little chance of progress.
He said: 'Miracles happen sometimes, but they are two goals in front and they are a very professional team.
'To
get a miracle, you need to be perfect and you need the other to not
play at his best potential. We have a lot of players out, too.
'If we want to have a chance, we have to be perfect. It will be very difficult, but let's pray.'
source:the daily mail
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