LVG: Mata not my type of winger, but I doubt we’ll spend

Mark Holmes
Juan Mata: Not Louis van Gaal's preferred type of winger

Juan Mata: Not Louis van Gaal's preferred type of winger

Louis van Gaal does not expect to spend this month despite admitting Manchester United still lack speed and creativity going forward.

United needed a stoppage-time penalty from Wayne Rooney to earn a 1-0 win over League One Sheffield United in the FA Cup on Saturday, with even Van Gaal admitting his side’s performance was “not good”.

Van Gaal complained at the start of his tenure that he was finding it hard to break down teams that defend in numbers.

When asked why he had failed to rectify that problem 18 months into his reign, Van Gaal said: “Because it is the most difficult situation in the match.

“It is like that and I have said also in the (summer) transfer period that we need creative players with speed and we don’t have that too much.

“Juan Mata is playing the right side and he is doing fantastically well because he always has a big contribution for our team, but he is not a right winger in the profile I have.

“But it is not so easy to purchase players who are better than Mata because even though he is in a different profile, he is a very good right winger in our way of playing.”

Van Gaal does not anticipate any incomings at all in the January transfer window.

“I don’t think that we shall do business in January,” he said.

“When there is a chance to make the selection better then we shall do it, but I don’t think we shall do that.”

United’s fans began showing their disapproval towards the end of the match against the Blades when they started leaving in their thousands.

Their disappointment was understandable. They had been made to wait 69 minutes before their team had a shot on target – and that was a weak effort from Matteo Darmian.

Ironic applause came from the United supporters behind the home dugout when Blades goalkeeper Long was called into action for the first time.

Boos were heard at half-time and a few came after the final whistle too as Van Gaal walked down the tunnel.

Marouane Fellaini was jeered when he was taken off in the second half, but Van Gaal said the Belgian – and he himself – would have to learn to cope with the stick that came their way.

“I think a player of Manchester United has to cope with the pressure of the fans of Manchester United and also with the media pressure,” Van Gaal said.

“That is also what I expect of the manager of Manchester United. It can have an influence, but I think a player of Manchester United has to deal with that otherwise you are not a good Manchester United player.”