Van Gaal Reacts To Draw At Newcastle

Louis van Gaal admits Manchester United “threw away” two points after Newcastle United twice fought back to secure a dramatic 3-3 draw at St James’ Park on Tuesday. Speaking to BT Sport and MUTV afterwards, the manager gave his honest reaction and analysis…

ANALYSIS OF THE RESULT
“We threw it away. You have to finish the game much earlier. The referee gave a penalty and I think it was a duel - I have seen the video and you can see Mitrovic was pushing the head of Smalling. When you both do that you cannot decide which is worse, I think, but the referee did not lose our game. We lost it by ourselves.”

ON UNITED'S PENALTY
“When you want to avoid the header of Fellaini by putting your hands to the ball... it is not ball to hand, it is the hand to the ball and Fellaini cannot head it that way. I don’t think it is a discussion, but okay you never know in this world. You can always have a discussion.”

MORE ON THE PERFORMANCE
“We were unlucky, when you see the penalty for the second goal and when you see the third goal. When the ball is going where he [Paul Dummett] shot then it is in the hands of De Gea. It clipped off Smalling and that took it past. It was unlucky. Before that we were running behind and you have to push forward, you have to push the ball under pressure and we didn’t do that. Then you get these kinds of things.”

DID THE PLAYERS GIVE EVERYTHING HE ASKED?
“They have to finish of course but it is always difficult. Rooney also had a very big chance in the first half. We could have scored six goals here, I think, there were big possibilities so when you then lose two points then that is very sad. Also, everybody knows it is our own fault. It was not the referee or the opponent. We did it ourselves.”

NEXT UP, LIVERPOOL!
“It is a very big game for Manchester United but also for Liverpool. Now, I am still with my mind on this game and that is not such a happy ending.”