Tuesday 23 February 2016 09:31, UK
Louis van Gaal was delighted with Manchester United's "committed" performance as they earned an FA Cup quarter-final spot with a 3-0 win over Shrewsbury on Monday night.
United eased the pressure on Van Gaal after a run of five wins from their last 18 matches with a comfortable victory at Greenhous Meadow, booking a quarter-final tie against West Ham to be played at Old Trafford.
The United manager hailed his side's "fantastic" first-half display as Chris Smalling and Juan Mata put them two goals ahead before half-time, leaving Van Gaal to reveal the game went according to plan.
"I am very pleased because the performance was very good," Van Gaal told Sky Sports News HQ. "I said at half-time to my players that they were very committed. They performed our game-plan very well and the consequence was we were ahead at half-time.
"It was a lucky goal from Smalling, but a very good free-kick from Mata. The second half I wanted to rest [Anthony] Martial and Mata.
"Everybody will say it's against Shrewsbury Town and Manchester United have to win, but we have seen very difficult results in the FA Cup. The top team doesn't always win so I think we have done fantastic, and I have congratulated my players because I was very pleased.
"Now we have to beat Midtjylland. It will not be easy because they are very well organised and we saw that in the game in Denmark. Everything is possible, and we are still in three competitions so we have to fight for every chance."
There was controversy surrounding the second goal as three United players appeared to be in an offside position as Mata took his free-kick.
But Shrewsbury manager Micky Mellon insisted he had not seen the controversial second goal, which came in first-half stoppage time and left his side with a mountain to climb.
"First and foremost the quality of Manchester United was fantastic," he said. "I couldn't have asked any more of the players.
"I haven't seen any of the goals back. But we've got to come away and say we've had a fantastic cup run. We gave it everything. The players can hold their heads high."
