Souness: LVG Deserves Credit

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal deserves credit for putting faith in his younger players, says Graeme Souness.

Marcus Rashford, 18, scored the winner for United in the Manchester derby on Super Sunday, bringing them to within a point of City in the race for the top four.

Jesse Lingard also put in a fine performance, alongside Frenchman Anthony Martial, and Souness gave Van Gaal credit for sticking with the youth players for such a big game.

"I think United will be much encouraged by the way the young players played in the first half. When City were going after them, it showed [United] had pace and imagination on the break. I think Martial is going to be an absolute star, given he's only 20 years old.


"United were really good today, and I think the manager deserves much credit. We get after him all of the time but he deserves credit.

"Sticking with these young guys, I think we picked holes in playing the young ones all the time before the game, but they came good for them today.

"First half they were very threatening on the break, obviously they expected to spend a lot of time without the ball.

"In the second half, after getting their goal, City have huffed and puffed but United stood firm.

"When you think De Gea had only three saves to make on 90 minutes, tells you the guys in front of him did a really good job."

Rashford was a menace for Manchester City centre-back Martin Demichelis throughout the first half, and has now scored five goals in his first eight appearances for the club.

Sky Sports' pundit Niall Quinn was impressed with the youngsters showing at the Etihad, and says Van Gaal's side looked like the United of old at times.

"To do it with youthful exuberance is one thing. But to do it with such skill and panache is something else.

"[Rashford] knew when he was getting onto that pitch that he was going to have a go at Demichelis.

"There were times in the first half where they looked like the old Manchester United, and that's a great compliment to give that side and the manager."

Credit: Skysports.com