Manchester derby ahead.... United boss Louis van Gaal sends warning to local rivals Manchester City ahead of Old Trafford derby clash
Manchester United picked up all three points at the weekend by beating Aston Villa 3-1 at Old Trafford
Louis van Gaal has piled pressure on Manchester City ahead of their games against Crystal Palace and United
It was another Manchester United, I believe,’ said Van Gaal, when asked how he reflected on the 1-0 defeat he suffered at the Etihad Stadium in November. ‘We have developed the team. That was more in the start of the process and now we are in the end of the process.
Van Gaal believes Manchester City's players may struggle to get to grips with being in fourth spot
‘So
I think also the confidence of our players is very high at the moment
but also our performances shows that so it’s not the same Manchester
United. It’s like the game against Liverpool and the game (coming up)
against Chelsea — you have to win these kinds of matches.’
With
Liverpool’s defeat by Arsenal effectively ending the doubt over which
sides will finish in the top four, it now becomes a question of what
order Chelsea, Arsenal and the two Manchester clubs will be after the
final games have been played.
United’s
run-in is laced with demanding assignments — aside from City, they must
go to Stamford Bridge on April 18, face a trip to Goodison Park the
following week and host Arsenal on May 16 — but they have an aura once
more.
Manchester United defender Chris Smalling saw red during the Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium
Villa,
stymied by injury problems that Tim Sherwood described as ‘crippling’,
simply couldn’t cope once they went conceded in the 43rd minute and the
manager, who was noticeably glum afterwards, can at least take solace
from the fact Queens Park Rangers will not offer the same threat on
Tuesday.
‘We
know it will be tough but as long as we can play the way we have shown,
especially in the last few games, it’s going to be a great game,’ said
Ashley Young, who admitted he was ‘disappointed’ to not be selected for
the last round of England games.
‘Hopefully we will get the three points. Of course it would be nice but we are just taking each game as it comes.’
There
was never any hint they would slip up here, bossing the first half and
then going through the gears after a slow period after the break to swat
Villa aside. Herrara, with his slick passing and industry, was
terrific. Rooney’s 14th strike of the campaign, meanwhile, was
sensational.
‘It's
about momentum, especially when you are going into this vital stage of
the season,’ Young added. ‘United teams always come strong at this stage
and we are showing in every game just how strong we can be – and even
how we finish the game. We will enjoy this but it is all about next
week.’
Ashley Young (left, pictured with Herrera) believes his side are building momentum ahead of the derby
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