Van Gaal Laments FA Cup Defeat To Arsenal

Louis van Gaal expressed his disappointment after Manchester United’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Arsenal, saying the Reds "lost because of our own performance".

United went down 2-1 to the Gunners at Old Trafford, where Danny Welbeck scored the winner after Wayne Rooney had cancelled out Nacho Monreal’s opener. Angel Di Maria’s subsequent dismissal for two bookable offences only made the Reds’ task harder.

"We didn't lose to them, we lost [because of] our own performance, and that's very disappointing," the manager said at his post-match press conference. "The players are very disappointed; they know it could have been different.

"It's a pity because after we were 1-0 down, we recovered immediately," he added on MUTV. "And the first chances of the second half were for us, so we could have decided the game."

Welbeck took advantage of a short backpass by Antonio Valencia to net the decisive goal, but van Gaal refused to be too critical of the Ecuadorian, who otherwise impressed.

"We gave the ball away in an area where you cannot give the ball away and that’s very disappointing," the manager said. "I think the best man in my team made the error and it was decisive. These things happen."

Di Maria was sent off by for two bookable offences, firstly for simulation and then for appearing to grab referee Michael Oliver to protest against the first decision.

"Every player knows you can’t touch the referee," van Gaal admitted. "He has touched the referee and the referee can give him a second yellow card.

"I said in advance of the match that you must never receive a red card – [you must] control your emotion, and then that happens.

"I have said to Angel Di Maria the referee is the boss on the pitch. He decides and you have to adapt to the referee, not the other way around.

"With 10 vs 11, it was difficult to beat the opponent, but we fought until the end and the fans were supporting the team, which was fantastic."

United’s hopes of winning the FA Cup are over for another year and the focus must now be on securing a top-four place in the Barclays Premier League, with rivals Tottenham Hotspur the next visitors on Sunday.

"All the players are very disappointed and that's logical," van Gaal added. "We have to see how we recover from that.

"I can't say the motivation of the team was bad; it's always good. We showed fantastic fighting spirit again.

"This is a big blow for us but we are sportsmen, so we have to recover."