Van Gaal: Josh King stopped us dominating

Daniel Storey

Louis van Gaal has reacted after a calamitous week for Manchester United, admitting that he is “concerned” by the club’s form.

United were knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage in midweek, and followed up defeat to Wolfsburg with a 2-1 loss to Bournemouth.

Van Gaal spent the build-up to the game telling supporters that they needed to temper their expectations of United, but that doesn’t quite stretch to losing to Bournemouth. 

“I think that we have the selection to do that (win the league), but we are now in a very difficult position,” said Van Gaal. “We have to make a revival this week, and that’s always very difficult because you have lost two in a row, and that doesn’t happen often for Manchester United.

“Of course I’m concerned because we have lost two matches in a row, and that is not a usual thing, so we have to stick together and prepare for our match against Norwich. “And you have to win, because otherwise it is always more difficult.

“It is already this week very difficult because my players are very disappointed. “They have done everything, but they have lost.”

United only had one shot on target during the second half for the third league game in a row. Van Gaal blamed the threat of Bournemouth striker Josh King for that.

“I have to say that in the second half, we played less but that is also I think the reason that we could not dominate the game because they always could have escaped through their striker Joshua King. That was a pity.”

A pity? Suspect fans might go a little further than that, big man.