Louis van Gaal insisted that Manchester United can still win the Premier League this season despite the 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth extending his team’s winless streak to five matches.
“We have the selection to do that,” said the Dutchman when asked about his team’s prospects of ending the season as English champions, a target that became all the more important after United were eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday. Van Gaal admitted he is “concerned” by United’s poor results but said he will draw on his vast experience to inspire a rapid turnaround, starting at home to Norwich next Saturday.
“We have to make a revival this week and that is always very difficult because you have just lost two matches in row and that is not happening so much for Manchester United,” said Van Gaal, explaining the feat will be achieved through “only hard work, training sessions, preparation and focus, all the same things that I have done in the 25 years of my managership. Only now it is more difficult for players to do that. But I shall challenge them and we shall come back”.
He added: “Of course I am concerned because we have lost two matches in a row and that is not a usual thing. We have to stick together and prepare our match against Norwich City and you have to win because otherwise it is more difficult.
“My players are very disappointed, they have done everything but they have lost [at Bournemouth]. We shall do our job. Now we have to stay in a position to keep fighting. We have to win three matches in a row, for example, to be still there after Christmas.”
Van Gaal said he remained confident of achieving a successful season because he retains the trust of his players. “It is matter of belief, if you believe in this manager or not,” he said. “When I see that my players want to do everything that we ask, that is the most important thing, the cohesion between the manager the staff and the players.”
In contrast to Van Gaal’s United team, Eddie Howe and Bournemouth are enjoying unprecedented league glory, with this result following last week’s victory at the home of the reigning champions, Chelsea. “When you look back at this week it is a great win for the club, not the type of thing that’s ever happened before,” said the manager of Bournemouth, who are playing in the top flight for the first time. “We’re embracing it.”
