Van Gaal's View On Man. United Win

Louis van Gaal admits Marouane Fellaini’s goal in the 3-1 victory over Club Brugge has given Manchester United added confidence ahead of next week’s second leg in Belgium, although the manager reserved most praise for two-goal hero Memphis Depay at Old Trafford.

The Dutch summer signing scored two sensational strikes in the first half on Tuesday after the Reds had fallen behind to Michael Carrick’s own goal. Our new no.7 then provided the assist for Fellaini’s important header in added time and, afterwards, the manager gave his positive reaction to BT Sport…

Will Fellaini’s goal make a difference? “Yes it makes a difference because 2-1 is a very difficult result. We deserved much more because we created a lot of chances. There was a lot of criticism [beforehand] that we never shoot on goal and we do not create chances. Now, you can see we created a lot of chances. As I always say, you have to be effective and sometimes with three chances you have two goals. Now we have a lot of chances and three goals. I am happy because of the last goal. We practiced that [move] before and when we need him [Fellaini] we put him in the 16-metre area because he has that quality and he has done that a lot of times with me, so I am very happy with him.”

Is this the start of something special for Memphis? “Yes I am very happy for him because a player needs that. I had said it is a matter of time and it was a matter of time. Hopefully he shall continue, but it is also difficult for him. He is 21 and has only played two seasons for PSV. But I have confidence in him and tonight he scored two goals and the assist for the third goal was a fantastic cross from him, so I am very happy.”

Despite the win, will the second leg in Belgium be a difficult game? “Yes it is a difficult ground, and it is not a simple opponent. I have read in the papers in England that it is simple and it is a walkover, but it isn’t like that. Every team that comes, such as Brugge against Panathinaikos, they won 3-0 [in the previous round]. It is still a game, but because of the last goal we now have more confidence.”

Was Michael Carrick substituted at half-time through injury, or was it tactical? “No it was a tactic switch. I have to also build up Schweinsteiger and that is why I changed Michael for Schweinsteiger. I had the two changes in mind, with Chicharito and Fellaini.”

Van Gaal was also typically quotable in his post-match press conference and paid an unusual compliment to Memphis, stating that he wanted "to kiss" his summer signing...

"When you score a goal then you are the hero," the manager said. "I think we are on the pitch to make goals as a team. I said something about unnecessary losses [after the Aston Villa game] of Adnan but not only Adnan, also Rooney and Memphis – there are more players who lost the ball. These aspects are also important but I want to kiss him tonight, because when you score two goals and give an assist also, then normally in the world you are the hero. But for a trainer-coach, it is different."