Van Gaal Explains Decision To Play Ashley Young As Lone Striker

 

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has explained why he chose to bring on Ashley Young and play him as a lone striker in the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Young came on at half-time and replaced Marcus Rashford for the Red Devils who crashed to a damaging defeat thanks to three goals in six minutes.

Speaking after the game Van Gaal explained his decision to play his winger as his team's forward, with Anthony Martial forced out wide. He said “I want more running in behind. I think we have chances to do that because they are like us an attacking side with full-backs coming up. You need runners to the death, Ashley Young has done that very well in the second team. Anthony Martial is more a player who wants the ball in to his feet, so when I want runs in behind it's better to give that to a player who is willing to do that”

The result leave United four points behind Manchester City in the race for the fourth Champions League spot but Van Gaal insists they are not out of it yet saying “Every team can lose. Still we are in the race. When you lose a game then you have to close the gap again. That's more difficult. Tottenham are a great team. Until the first goal we were a good team, who were playing good, who also had a big chance for a goal. Three-nil is a big negative result, the way we played until the first goal it was good”