MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER Louis van Gaal declared that he was not concerned by his side’s performance after their 0-0 draw at fourth-tier minnows Cambridge United in the FA Cup.
Van Gaal selected a strong team for the trip to the Abbey Stadium, but despite the presence of Angel di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie, United could not prevent the fourth-round tie going to a replay.
Although the visitors were 76 places above their opponents in the English league system, Van Gaal claimed that it was actually 11-time cup-winners United who had been playing against the odds in Friday’s game.
“Every aspect of the match is against us,” said the Dutchman, whose team had overcome third-division Yeovil Town 2-0 in the third round.
“We have to come here, the pitch is not so good, but that can influence also that you play in another playing style.
“The opponents are always giving a lot more than normally and defending is always easier (than) attacking, and then you have seen the referee.
“It’s always the same. Everywhere I have coached these games and I have coached them also with other clubs. It’s always the same.”
Asked to elaborate on his remarks about referee Chris Foy, he replied: “You can give your own opinion. I cannot give.”
Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata were omitted from United’s match-day squad, but Van Gaal said that both players had simply been rested and were not carrying injuries.
Van Gaal reverted to a 4-4-2 formation with a diamond midfield — after United’s fans had protested against his preferred 3-5-2 system during last weekend’s 2-0 win at Queens Park Rangers — but he said that tactics alone could not explain his side’s failure to click.
“When I know the statistics of our former performances, then you could see that we create more chances (with a 4-4-2),” he said.
“But it’s not only the system. It’s also the performance of the system and what you see now in the first half is more or less the same as what we did with the other system (3-5-2).
“So it’s not so easy to change the system. That is not the solution, I’m sorry.”
United’s best chances arrived in the second half, but Cambridge goalkeeper Chris Dunn produced two excellent saves to thwart first Falcao and then Di Maria.
Cambridge only returned to the Football League last season after nine years in non-league football, while the club sailed perilously close to bankruptcy in 2005.
“It’s difficult to put into words really, just how proud we are,” said head coach Richard Money.
“When you get back in the dressing room and recover, you suddenly start to think about what it means to so many people.
“This club has been in the doldrums for 10 years, out of the Football League, and and suddenly here we are, taking everybody back to Old Trafford. It’s incredible.”
He played down his side’s chances of creating a sensation at Old Trafford in the replay, however.
Asked if he thought Cambridge were capable of pulling off an upset, he replied: “No. I don’t.” Before adding with a smile: “But you never know.”
Cambridge made two trips to Wembley last season, winning the Football Conference play-off final and triumphing in the non-league FA Trophy, and winger Ryan Donaldson said those experiences would stand his side in good stead.
“It’s going to be surreal at Old Trafford, but we have been to Wembley twice last year,” said the 23-year-old. “Not bad, is it?”
Reflecting on his stoppage-time save from Di Maria, after he had punched away a cross from in front of Van Persie, Dunn said: “To be honest, you don’t think — you just go and hope for the best.
“This is the sort of thing you dream of, though — to take Manchester United back to Old Trafford is a dream come true. The lads are buzzing.”
The only reason they won the six nations last year is because Scotland and ourselves played the majority of the game with 14 or less men and they were awarded the most dubious of tries against England with the water carriers and medical staff still on the pitch.
@Peter Dunne: Definitely got a good bit more than a slice of luck, but at the same time you make your own too at times and can only play whats infront of you. Players like LRZ, L.Williams, J Tips, AWJ, Wyn Jones, Faletau, Navidi etc were incredible through out for them.
Wales we’re poor really. Fiji we’re unlucky, played well. Rees-Zammit’s try should not have been given, he was clearly not in control of the ball on (attempted) touchdown.
@Teddy O’Brien: In fairness as Berry said, all they look for is separation with the ball and there was none. I partly agree with you tho as the ball rolled up from his palm to wrist, but that’s still contact I guess… Still he probably deserved it for the effort alone. The speed he has is freakishly good.
@Teddy O’Brien: The 2000s called, they want their laws back. There doesn’t need to be control.
@Ultan Corcoran: baloucane faster?
Hopefully the new Super Rugby team can help Fiji progress. The talent is there for them to be a real powerhouse, just need funding to build a genuine international set up!
@TheCraftyCulchie: 5 teams – Us, Scotland, France, Argentina and Fiji have had a man red carded against Wales in the last 9 months
@Jonny Walls: Could it be a tactic? To orchestrate situations where an opposition player has a high risk of fouling. Theoretically, it could be easy enough to do.
@SomeGuy: that would be handy! Hard to do I’d say!
Sau is clearly a bit of an id iot, has a recent history of nasty tackles. Tried to take the head off Connacht’s Niall Murray with a late hit in Touch last season at the Sportsground which unbelievably didn’t even get a yellow card…
https://twitter.com/RonanB/status/1371104555405094913?t=xQVRjAV_64IB7bRwVkdLiw&s=19
Ehhh …….. did wales play a large part of that game against 13? You’d expect them to win. Unlucky fiji but discipline is an issue