Van Gaal's Verdict On PSV Stalemate

Louis van Gaal spoke to MUTV and in his press conference after Manchester United's 0-0 draw with PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night. Here are the key quotes from his post-match interview...

First half better than the second

"I think the first half was a reasonable performance. We have created three open chances and three other chances and we give only two chances away against a very defensive opponent. But then the second half was not great and I think it is a miracle that we didn't give chances away in the second half - only one, I believe."

Big chance for Jesse Lingard

"Still [in the second half] we have created one big chance for Jesse Lingard which we could have finished and that is very disappointing, also for the fans, that we didn't score, though he played very well. It was so close but we still didn't score. We could have qualified and it's a big disappointment also for the players."

Changes made no difference

"Our midfielders had to give an angle to our central defenders, to Daley Blind and Chris Smalling, because they were playing against one striker, De Jong. So in the first half that was not always the case, but in the second half, this happened less in spite of my changes. Normally when I change it goes better but today it was not like that, so I was also very disappointed that my changes didn't give an improvement. I thought that with this line-up, we had the best chance to win and you never know whether that would have happened if Mata had played from beginning."

No guarantees at Old Trafford

"It's also a big disappointment for the fans because everybody counts at Manchester United at home that they shall win. But it is not so easy, and that we know, but we never admit that."

Lack of goals a concern

"Of course I am worried but I know also that goals are not always a consequence of good or bad performances. Today we could have scored at least three goals - they were not the most difficult chances, but we didn't score. Yet in the next game, we could score out of nothing. That's football."

Hopeful of winning in Wolfsburg

"We are still second and are still in the qualifying position. We have to win in Wolfsburg and that's a difficult game, but everything is possible, it is never impossible. We won at home against them, so why can't we win away? We can win everywhere. We prove it this year. Also in the Premier League, our average in away matches is much higher than last year. And we have to do that also in the Champions League."