Louis van Gaal: Draw fair for Manchester United at Crystal Palace
Sunday 1 November 2015 07:55, UK
Louis van Gaal admitted Manchester United did not deserve to beat Crystal Palace as they were held to a third successive goalless draw.
The Eagles created the best chances at Selhurst Park as Yannick Bolasie hit the bar and Yohan Cabaye missed from close range.
United rarely threatened at the other end, with Ander Herrera spurning their best opportunity when he miscued a shot late in the first half.
"We were not the better team today so we did not deserve to win," said Van Gaal. "Palace had more chances than us so I cannot complain about the result.
"It was obvious that Crystal Palace started very well. They won every second or third ball and kept the pressure on us.
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"Then after 15 minutes we came into the match and played our positional match. The big chance of Ander Herrera we have to finish that and we didn't finish."
It is the third match in a row that United have failed to score but Van Gaal hopes his side can break that run against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday.
"It can change in one match," he said. "Let it be against CSKA Moscow because we need a victory. We have to hope that we score against Moscow because then we talk in a different way."
The draw at Selhurst Park came just a day after Van Gaal had hit back at criticism that his side were boring.
Asked whether the balance of the side was right, he said: "You can never tell as a coach whether it was the right balance when you don't have the control of the game and I want to control the game always.
"Maybe in the second half of the first half we controlled the game, but in the second half we didn't control the game so you cannot talk of balance in the team."
United were urged to attack by their fans but they were unable to snatch victory as they slip four points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City.
"I think the right of the fans is always there," said Van Gaal. "This was the first time after Arsenal that we were not the better team away so I think they have seen it very good, I think.
"So they can sing that but the next time they may sing in another way."
