Van Gaal refuses to blame coach attack for defeat

Matt Stead

Louis van Gaal refused to use the attack on Manchester United’s coach as an excuse for the 3-2 defeat against West Ham in the final match at Upton Park.

Kick-off had to be put back by 45 minutes in east London as United’s players did not reach the ground until 7:10pm after being delayed by hordes of Hammers fans, some of whom pelted the team bus with glass bottles and other missiles.

But United manager Van Gaal refused to blame the pre-match attack on the club coach as a reason for his side’s shortcomings as their Champions League hopes were taken out of their own hands.

“First of all you cannot prove that (it had an effect),” he said.

“We live in this world, we know that, I know it is not the first time it happens. Okay, I have a long experience in football and there are players who don’t have the experience.

“It will have an influence but I don’t think we have to look for excuses because we chased the match in the second-half and 20 minutes before full-time we are ahead so I don’t think you have to look for that excuse.

“I think the disappointment is because we were 2-1 ahead, we changed the match in our favour and in a fantastic way.

“Then you lose because of the set-plays and that I have already said before the match, we tried to organise everything but still you miss the centimetres so we have a lot of set-plays and corner goals against us already.

“That is disappointing because it has a big consequence and you lose a game you have to win.”

The defeat means Manchester City only need to draw at Swansea to secure a top four spot due to their far superior goal difference over United.