Van Gaal Pinpoints Midtjylland Threat

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is not underestimating the threat of Midtjylland and expects the Danish champions to test his injury-hit side at set-pieces in Thursday’s Europa League tie.

No fewer than 13 Reds are sidelined for the last-32 encounter at the MCH Arena in Herning, with Wayne Rooney, Marouane Fellaini and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson being the latest absentees.

Several youngsters were in the squad that flew to Denmark on Wednesday morning and van Gaal later hinted in his press conference that Will Keane and Donald Love may feature in the game.

The boss believes Midtjylland’s biggest threat will be at corners and free-kicks and, while he accepts United are not a big side, adding height to the squad to combat that threat was not an option.

"We have to beat Midtjylland, who are a very good team," van Gaal said. "They play in a difficult shape for us. Sunderland showed it and Midtjylland play in the same shape, 4-1-4-1.

"They are specialised at set-plays – they have scored 48 per cent of their goals from them. So we’ll try to organise for that but it's difficult. We hope we can do that but we mustn't give too many corners or free-kicks away.

"We don't have tall players but we know that in advance. I cannot select other players now because of their height. We have a squad of 26 players and 13 are left, then the rest are out of the second team. I always have to select players on quality, not height, but it is a problem.

"The circumstances are also not so easy. I have seen that the pitch is smaller than usual so it is not so easy to beat Midtjylland here and a lot of teams have experienced that."

Van Gaal last week suggested the Europa League was below the FA Cup on the list of priorities but has now clarified that this was a personal wish, as he has previously won the UEFA Cup with Ajax.

The Dutchman insists United are taking Europe’s secondary club competition very seriously because it offers a route into the Champions League, though he is well aware of the size of the challenge ahead.

"I have won the UEFA Cup already and I want to win a title in England – that's why I came to this country," he explained. "We’ve had a lot of time not winning the FA Cup but for Manchester United as a club, it's more important to win the Europa League because we can qualify for the Champions League.

"But it is difficult to win as there are good teams in the Europa League. We need to win a lot of rounds still but it is a way to get into the Champions League. It is a fantastic aim for us to win this cup because Manchester United have never won it."