LVG rules out transfer remedy for United
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said that he would not jump into the transfer market to solve his side’s goal-scoring problems following their 2-1 defeat at Swansea City, reports AFP.
Juan Mata gave United the lead in the 48th minute at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday, but after Swansea manager Garry Monk had altered his midfield configuration to a diamond, the hosts struck twice in five minutes.
Andre Ayew equalised in the 61st minute with a smart downward header that beat Sergio Romero and then produced a fine pass for Bafetimbi Gomis to beat Romero at the near post for the winner.
Ashley Williams’s last-ditch tackle denied Wayne Rooney a late equaliser, ending United’s unbeaten record and leaving Van Gaal’s side with a return of just three goals from four league games.
Asked if he would look to bolster his squad with extra attacking power before Tuesday’s transfer deadline, Van Gaal replied: “You can never speak as a club like United that you are satisfied.
“(But) certainly we shall not sign at the end of the transfer period a player that we have not scouted before.
“We know in offence what is happening or not happening. It is not an issue. When it is like that we have to keep going and in January, the (transfer) window is open again.
“It is a process and I cannot change that process because you are dependable not only (on) the player you want, but also the club.”
One issue still dogging Van Gaal concerns goalkeeper David de Gea.
Van Gaal has dropped De Gea following months of speculation linking the Spaniard with a move to Real Madrid, but the manager said that he was happy to take a back seat in the club’s transfer dealings.
“We will have to wait and see,” he said. “I don’t want to interfere. As a club, we have divided our tasks and the task is for (executive vice-chairman) Ed Woodward and not me.
“I don’t want to interfere with words or nothing. It is a process and we have to wait and see. The club will announce it and so on.”
‘Character and passion’
On the game, van Gaal said: “It is a feeling of frustration, but more disappointment.
“For 85 minutes we were the dominant side. However, we have lost the game in five minutes. And we lost because they changed the shape.
“Both teams did everything to win, but in five minutes, they changed shape and scored twice. It’s a big lesson to us because we have to adapt far more quickly than we did. They changed and we didn’t see it.”
Van Gaal was in no mood to point the finger of blame at individuals and dismissed suggestions Romero had been partly at fault for both goals.
“In the end, the pressure for the last defender or the goalkeeper is always higher than it is further up the pitch,” he said. “But I don’t agree that the goalkeeper was not so good today.”
Swansea manager Garry Monk, meanwhile, is in no rush to add anyone to his squad, following an impressive win that left his side in fourth place.
“I’m very happy,” said the former Swansea centre-back, who has won all three of his league games as a manager against United by a 2-1 scoreline.
“I felt we should make a tactical change in the second half and I thought that allowed us to get back into the game. It was the right thing to do and it made us more of a threat.
“We scored the goals at great times and they were both excellent finishes. I thought we were very clinical.
“They didn’t cope with that change and failed to react to it. That’s why we took advantage. After that we defended really well.
“But the most pleasing thing is the character and passion. We have played some amazing football this season, but that passion is just fantastic.”
