Louis van Gaal : It is not as easy as everyone is thinking

“I was very disappointed at half-time because we made the same error against Yeovil Town and Queens Park Rangers,”
“We played in the same style of play [as the opposition] and you don't have to do that.

“In the second half we played much better, we built up the game from behind and played no more long balls. Then we could have scored but we didn't so now we have to play again.“

“I know in these matches every aspect of a game is against you. The crowd is against you - that is nice I think - but also the pitch and also the defensive organisation of the opponent. Everything you can imagine is against you.“

About Cambridge
"Cambridge are the weaker team - everybody knows that - and you have to solve that problem [of how to beat them]. You cannot always solve that problem and I have seen that a lot of times. But fortunately we are still in the FA Cup. We have to play at home and we have to beat them.”

“It's fantastic for them,”
“I think a lot of players have dreamt of this and they fought until the end. Also, in the first half they have created one or two possibilities. You can lose these games, in spite of the possession in the second half. So it is not as easy as everyone is thinking.“

“I’m very happy we're still in the FA Cup. Okay, we have to play another match but I don't think that's a bad thing because this season we don't play in European competitions so it's good we have an extra game in February.”

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Louis van Gaal : About Angel Di Maria Role

"He played in the 4-4-2 in the left midfield position, but in the 3-5-2 he does not play so much because he has been injured," 

"Then he came back and I tried him as a striker because we also need pace in that position. We have to stretch the pitch – that is an important aspect of a striker, that he can stretch the pitch. Then you make the pitch bigger and your midfielders can play in a bigger space and play a better positional game than ever.

"So I tried that – I had to try it because I didn't have the preparation at the beginning of the season [Di Maria joined in late August]."

"It is very important that the players are comfortable. I would like them to feel more comfortable, but we have to do our preparation in the season so we are doing a lot of things during the matches," he explained."

"Of course it is very important to win all your games but that is not possible in the Premier League. We have had a fantastic run of results, though, except Southampton at home, and up to now I am pleased. We are going the right way."

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Louis van Gaal : Pace is Always Important, and Defensive Too

"I think pace is always important, which is why we try to play with Angel Di Maria as a striker,"
"When I changed the shape, I wanted speed or pace also in the attacking line, that’s why I changed in that way. It’s a change in attack that brings lot of risk, but we have won 2-0 (against QPR) and I think it was deserved."

About Defensive Field
"The defensive organisation has been good from the beginning,"
"We have only one match against Leicester City that was five goals and, because of that, we had a bad average against us, but I think we have a very good defensive organisation so that is not a problem."

“It's not only defensive organisation you have to judge,”
“For example, against Southampton, we had 60 per cent of ball possession. We were the dominant team but we lost and the result is, of course, always the most important aspect.”

“Defensively, everybody was saying I don't have the right defenders but they cannot write that anymore because this kind of figure [only conceding seven goals in 12 matches] is, of course, very good.”

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Louis Van Gaal : About Match-Loss againts Southampton

“We didn’t create so many chances in spite of dominating the game,”
“We gave Southampton a chance in the first minute but after that we have dominated the game without creating many chances.“
"We created chances at the end, and we played with our heart. I put Fellaini at the top and then we made three big chances but it was not enough. I think Mata had three chances but okay, we cannot change the result anymore.”
“They defended well, [they had] good organisation, but they came for a draw I think and they go away with a victory. That is disappointing.“

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Louis Van Gaal : About Winter Transfer Window for United

"When I cannot improve my selection, then I wait," he explained to reporters. "And then I maybe have to wait a year more. Maybe you think that there are so many fantastic players, but it is not like that."

"[However,] I don’t [necessarily] prefer to wait until the summer when I can improve my selections. That I have showed with Valdes."

"When we can buy a player who can improve my selection, the club shall buy. Money is not interesting. It is always quality of the players in comparison with the other players that I have. I have to compare. I have to decide. Money doesn’t play any role."

"Now that I coach Manchester United, I expect more attacking quality," he added. "If it is not this year, then next season or the season after that. We shall improve and you shall see it."

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Manchester United sign Victor Valdes

Victor Valdes :
"It is a real honour to sign for Manchester United. I would like to thank Louis van Gaal and the club for allowing me to do my rehabilitation and to train with the team at the Aon Training Complex. From my short time here I can already see this is a very special club. I worked with Louis van Gaal during my time at FC Barcelona and to have the opportunity to work with him here at Manchester United is a dream come true."

Louis van Gaal :
"I am delighted Victor has signed for the club. Victor is a very experienced goalkeeper and his record speaks for itself. I have said on many occasions that Manchester United will always be interested in the best players. Victor has remained very professional throughout his rehabilitation from injury and has been very impressive during his training sessions with the first team over the past weeks. He joins the club as the number two goalkeeper and is a great addition to the first team."

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Louis Van Gaal : About Game against Yeofil - FA Cup

"It's always difficult to play against such teams,"

"They gave us not so much time and every ball came under pressure. I have lot of respect for the players and coach of Yeovil Town - it was not so easy for us."

"In the second half, we had a little bit more time and space, we played better and were more patient,"

"We kept the ball better also and, because of that, we could score the winning goal."

"We dominated the game, more so in the second half. They had one chance from a set-piece, but we were organised and Angel Di Maria cleared it away. It's just simple organisation. I think they maybe had one more chance after a mistake from one of my players, but that's it."

About herrera's Goal
“It was class, and not his first from outside the box. It had a little bit of luck, but you need that, I'm very happy for him.”

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