Louis van Gaal asked for three months with the Manchester United team before people started to judge them on results. He pointed out that these players would need time to adapt to his ‘philosophy’, a word he seems to make it a point to repeat in every press conference. And although the fear factor of the United of old has been missing, Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United seem to display a similarity to Fergie’s great teams in merely getting the job done. That is exactly what they did when Everton came to town couple of weeks back and that is what they would need to do when the visit the Hawthorns to face a West Brom side who are more than capable of causing an upset.
Van Gaal spoke this week about how the lack of European commitments this season is exactly what United needed to ensure a smooth transition from the disappointments of last season. He spoke candidly of how Manchester United have the luxury of two blank midweeks in which his players can get adequate rest to prepare for the next Premier League game – a luxury their opponents on Sunday, Chelsea can’t afford. But while van Gaal sees missing out on Europe this season as a mixed blessing, he doesn’t want to stay out of elite company for too long. Not just because United’s finances demand their participation in Europe’s most elite competition, something van Gaal is well aware of. But because, European games are an opportunity to test your ability against the continent’s finest.
When you can play the Champions League, especially the Champions League but also the Europa League, you can compare yourselves as a team against better players, with a higher level,” the Manchester United manager opined. For now though, the Dutchman knows that United’s absence from Europe can have a similar effect to what happened to Liverpool last season, because fatigue does play it’s role in the long English season. In terms of performances, United certainly look to be heading in a positive direction. In Di Maria, van Gaal has a playmaker capable of unlocking any defence in the world, and with Falcao, RvP and Rooney upfront, there’s no lack of firepower. It is injuries in defence that may hurt United badly, with four of their centre-backs out through injury, although Phil Jones may be on the verge of a comeback.
Van Gaal talks about being decisive and being able to kill the game, much like they failed to do at Leicester: “We have to learn to kill the game and you can do that not with one or three or eight. All the 11 players have to think the same, otherwise you lose balls unnecessarily and then we are going back instead of forward. That’s what we have to do, but that takes time.” United fans will remember Saido Berahino announcing himself to the world by shocking United at Old Trafford last season, and Berahino, a year older and wiser now, remains a threat for the fragile United backline.
West Brom vs Manchester United Match Facts:
- Victory at The Hawthorns would see United win three consecutive league games for the first time in 2014.
- However they are without a win in their past five away league games – their worst run since 2001. It is 18 years since they went six away games without a win in the Premier League.
- Angel Di Maria has been involved in six goals in his five Premier League appearances (three goals, three assists).
- Robin van Persie has scored four goals, and assisted two, in his past seven league appearances against West Brom.
- Manchester United have never lost at West Brom in the Premier League (W7, D1).
- There has only been one draw in their past 18 top-flight meetings at The Hawthorns – the 5-5 draw in May 2013, Sir Alex Ferguson’s last game in charge.
- West Brom have only beaten the Reds once in the Premier League (D3, L12).
Match facts compiled from BBC.
West Brom vs Manchester United Lineups:
West Brom: Foster; Gamboa, Lescott, Dawsom, Pocognoli; Gardner, Morrison, Dorrans, Sessegnon, Berahino; Ideye.
Man Utd: De Gea; Rafael, Jones, Rojo, Shaw; Blind, Herrera, Di Maria; Januzaj, RvP, Falcao.
West Brom vs Manchester United Prediction:
A 1-2 win for the visitors.