Van Gaal: We Must Respond In Replay

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal will demand a better display from his team when Cambridge United come to Old Trafford after earning a fourth-round replay in the FA Cup.

The Reds controlled the majority of possession but could not break down a stubborn defence that was cheered on by a raucous home crowd at the Abbey Stadium. Speaking to MUTV after the match, van Gaal offered his assessment of a disappointing 0-0 draw.

“I was very disappointed at half-time because we made the same error against Yeovil Town and Queens Park Rangers,” the boss explained. “We played in the same style of play [as the opposition] and you don't have to do that.

"In the second half we played much better, we built up the game from behind and played no more long balls. Then we could have scored but we didn't so now we have to play again.

“I know in these matches every aspect of a game is against you. The crowd is against you - that is nice I think - but also the pitch and also the defensive organisation of the opponent. Everything you can imagine is against you.

"Cambridge are the weaker team - everybody knows that - and you have to solve that problem [of how to beat them]. You cannot always solve that problem and I have seen that a lot of times. But fortunately we are still in the FA Cup. We have to play at home and we have to beat them.”

Cambridge were rank outsiders for Friday’s tie and manager Richard Money was rightly delighted by his team’s display against English football’s most successful club. Van Gaal lavished praise on the opposition too.

“It's fantastic for them,” he explained. “I think a lot of players have dreamt of this and they fought until the end. Also, in the first half they have created one or two possibilities. You can lose these games, in spite of the possession in the second half. So it is not as easy as everyone is thinking.

“I’m very happy we're still in the FA Cup. Okay, we have to play another match but I don't think that's a bad thing because this season we don't play in European competitions so it's good we have an extra game in February.”