Louis van Gaal: We Owe the Fans a Big Result
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal remains optimistic about his side's chances of eliminating Liverpool from the Europa League.
OMNISPORT
Louis van Gaal feels Manchester United owes the fans a big result in the second leg of its Europa League tie with Liverpool.
United lost 2-0 in last week's first leg at Anfield as Liverpool dominated the game from start to finish. Van Gaal has acknowledged his men need to do much better if they are to to turn the tie around.
Faced with overcoming a two-goal deficit and with a daunting FA Cup quarterfinal replay at West Ham to come, United's chances of silverware in 2015-16 appear to be slim.
"We always owe the fans a big result because the fans pay to see that and we have to deliver," Van Gaal said at a news conference. "It's a big challenge. We have to believe. It starts with the players and the fans, they have a lot of impact on the pitch. We don't fulfill the expectations and still they support this team.
"The first half of the first leg was not our half. We have to do much better than that otherwise we cannot win."
Van Gaal also had his say on the potential involvement of Marouane Fellaini in the wake of ongoing criticism of the Belgium international, who appeared to elbow Emre Can off the ball in the first leg at Anfield.
"I cannot say if Fellaini plays tomorrow because then I give away part of my lineup and I don't want to do that," the United boss said. "But Fellaini has his way of playing and he can give us a lot of qualities and has contributed in a lot of games in a very good way."