Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has admitted the derby
against Manchester City on Sunday could be a "do or die" game for his
club's Champions League qualification hopes this season.
When asked if the game is "do or die," Van Gaal said: "I think so. We
are now four points behind so you have to win, otherwise the gap is
bigger and bigger and the matches you have to play are not so many. If
we lose, then it is seven points and we have eight matches left, so it
is very sharp to recover from that gap. It is still possible but it's
difficult then, because West Ham United is also in front of us [in fifth
place]. It's not only City."
Coming after such a damaging defeat against Liverpool, the City game is badly timed, but Van Gaal thinks that past form should not be taken into consideration.
He said: "Do you think that every game is the same game? Every game
is different with different players, referees and circumstances."
When Van Gaal's job prospects were questioned, he started becoming more prickly.
The United manager addressed that on Thursday, saying: "I never feel
that I am under pressure. I do what I have to do. Do you feel you are
under pressure? What do I have to say now?"
He was questioned about whether his future in the job is dependent on qualifying for the Champions League.
"I don't discuss that with you," Van Gaal said. "Why do I have to
discuss that? Every day when we lose, you put that question, but why? I
have a three-year contract and the process is three years.
"When you are for four months writing -- or your colleagues -- that I
shall be sacked, I have read that for four months already. You think
that is logical, normal?"
It was pointed out that Van Gaal could be considered to have not
lived up to expectations, but he retorted that "expectations can be too
high."
When asked what his expectations were, he said: "Our purpose was to
reach the top three because we want to do better than last year -- but,
then, you have to analyse the circumstances, how I have to work."
Some suggestions were put to him, regarding what the circumstances might be, such as injuries, but he refused to elaborate.
"You can fill that in. I have said these in all my press
conferences," Van Gaal said. "I don't repeat myself any more. You are
repeating, always putting me the same questions when I am losing."
City will be without centre-back Vincent Kompany for at least a month
after he suffered a calf problem during Tuesday's 0-0 draw at home
against Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League.
Kompany's defensive colleague Nicolas Otamendi also went off with a
leg injury in that match, meaning that City had to use a makeshift
centre-back partnership in the second half of Martin Demichelis and
Eliaquim Mangala. Otamendi, though, is hopeful of a swift recovery from
his problem.
Van Gaal said: "We have to disorganise their defence. We know maybe
Otamendi and Kompany cannot play. So they could play with Demichelis and
Mangala.
"I will sit down with my staff and discuss the game plan. It depends
also which players are fit to play because we have played [against
Liverpool] a few days before City. You have to wait and see who is
available. That also has an influence on my game plan. It's not so easy
to be a manager.
"Normally we play always in the same style and we try to press in a certain way, depending on the opponent's quality."
The United manager said that, having played against Liverpool, his team were being given a rest ahead of the derby on Sunday.
"Now the players are recovering, taking ice baths, so I cannot train in between."
Saturday, 19 March 2016
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MAN UNITED CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HOPES DEPENDS ON MANCHESTER DERBY SAYS VAN GAAL
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