'Adaptable' Man United rookies impress Van Gaal

Posted Sunday, November 23, 2014 by Talksport.co.uk

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal was left to hail the efforts of the club's inexperienced youngsters following a surprise 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Many were expecting a walkover from the Gunners when the Dutch boss named a make-shift back-three for the trip to north-London, with England defender Chris Smalling joined by rookie defenders Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair.

But the raw trio, along with wing-backs Antonia Valencia and fellow starlet Luke Shaw, held firm against the home side as their partnership grew stronger as the game progressed.

The game was won thanks to a Kieran Gibbs own-goal and Wayne Rooney's strike, with United looking impressively dangerous on the break, though Van Gaal did receive a blow early in the first-half when Shaw was forced off with injury to add another player to the club's ever-lengthening injury list.

And while his replacement, an Ashley Young short of match-fitness, put in a decent shift, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach is looking forward to the return of a handful of his sidelined stars.

"First I hope the players are coming back from injuries because it's unbelievably difficult to create the consistency in the team - because I have to change my line-up every week," said Van Gaal.

"Maybe you don't know but I am a coach who always has the same line-up, maybe I change one or two. But not constantly so many players."

"I have also changed the formation. It is not always good to create optimism in the team."

"Shaw has to play. Then he is coming back from the international break with the English national team and he is not fit enough. We make him fit."

"Then he is injured with another injury. Ankle. You have seen that. Then I have to give Young a game, but Young is not fit enough to play 90 minutes."

"I think the players have done fantastic, though. Blackett, McNair and Luke Shaw - how old are they?"

"You play against a top team like Arsenal and they are always changing position, so you need a lot of communication. I think that is pretty good."

Despite the gritty victory, Van Gaal believes there is still plenty of room for improvement from his side, who leapfrogged Arsenal and climbed into the Champions League places with their first away win of the season.

"I was not pleased with the way we have played in the first half," he added.

"The first 35 minutes we gave the ball away so easily that it's not possible for a top team. Because of that, Arsenal created a lot of chances."

"Fortunately we have a very good goalkeeper and after the first 35 minutes you saw that we are coming back in the game and created a few possibilities."

"I told them at half-time that when we keep the ball, when we show confidence, then we shall create many chances."

"We created at least three big chances. Di Maria could finish the game also."

"But also two times the pass was easy to give to Di Maria and Wayne Rooney and the pass was not right."

"That was not a difficult pass in my opinion so we have to improve that. I am very happy, of course."