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Van Gaal: Results like Aston Villa draw could cost Manchester United the title

The Dutchman says the Red Devils were the better side at Villa Park, and believes the failure to get all three points in this kind of match could prove decisive.

MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER Louis van Gaal says he is “very frustrated” and believes his team’s 1-1 draw at Aston Villa is the kind of result which can cost a club the Premier League title.

Radamel Falcao’s second-half header cancelled out Christian Benteke’s fine opener, but United could not get a winner despite Gabby Agbonlahor’s red card for a foul on Ashley Young with 25 minutes remaining.

And Van Gaal was clearly disappointed that his side could not emulate rivals Manchester City earlier in the day by finding a way past stubborn opposition.

“When you want to be a part of the title race you have to win these games,” he told reporters.

Asked if this result could cost his side the title, he replied: “Yes, that’s what I mean. I’ve seen Manchester City in the first half against Crystal Palace. They struggle till half-time but at the end it is 3-0 – that’s the difference. We have to win these matches but there is still a long time to go.”

“I am very frustrated and I think the players [are] also because we were the better team and we don’t win, you have to win when you are the better team,” he also told Sky Sports. “We were not aggressive enough in the first half, in the second it was better but I have to say that Aston Villa are very well organised and it’s always difficult to score, but when you allow them to score you know it will be very difficult.

“We did it in the second half better, we were more aggressive, we pressed more in front and that’s why we scored, but you have to score two times and we could not do it. It was very frustrating because it could’ve been seven [wins] in a row.”

Van Gaal also said Villa were perhaps a more difficult proposition after going down to 10 men.

“Yeah because they make the space more narrow, with long balls of course,” he added. “Benteke is very strong and we couldn’t manage that.”

But the Dutchman, who admitted he had not seen enough of Falcao in recent weeks due to his injuries, says he was pleased that the Colombian found the target on his first start since October 5.

“I’m very happy for him because he needs it, and I’m very happy when a striker scores.”

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    Mute dabuyincojen
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    Dec 19th 2014, 9:35 AM

    If he does live Dortmund. Think Liverpool would suit him. He seems to be able to achieve alot with limited resources and young players. Could be what the pool needs. Don’t want to see Rodgers go but Klopp would be a good replacement. YNWA

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    Mute Mark Lillis
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    Dec 19th 2014, 10:10 AM

    If he was to go to Liverpool and do what he has done at Dortmund, Liverpool would have a few good seasons before becoming a feeder club to teams with more money. They would end up in the relegation zone before he moved on to do the same in Spain or Italy.

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    Mute Derek Mahon
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    Dec 19th 2014, 10:10 AM

    Klopp could do a lot better than us, and that’s coming from a liverpool fan.

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    Mute Paul Mallon
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    Dec 19th 2014, 1:37 PM

    I still think arsenal would be mad to let wenger go. Much harder to win the English league than the German one. I think if arsenal do let wenger go they’ll only realise what they’ve lost afterwards.

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    Mute Harry Redmond
    Favourite Harry Redmond
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    Dec 19th 2014, 8:23 PM

    I don’t think Klopp is the right choice for Arsenal and maybe not Liverpool. The reason they’re doing well in the CL and horrifically in the league is because they have one gameplan and domestic opposition and copped onto it. They sit back and hit on the counter to negate Dortmund’s high energy attacks. They’re afforded more time on the ball in the CL and that means they’re doing well but Klopp hasn’t adapted at all with Dortmund, Guardiola has worked out how to adjust his plan for different opponents and completely deserves the continued domination in Germany whereas Dortmund have fallen away.

    I am not at all saying that Klopp is a bad manager, but seeing fans beg for their manager to be sacked and to have him placed as a saviour for any team in need simply isn’t correct.

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