Man Utd defeat is ‘the law of Murphy’, says Van Gaal

Scott Anderson
Louis Van Gaal: Must leave United

Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal has claimed their 2-1 Europa League defeat to FC Midtjylland is down to “the law of Murphy”.

United’s Europa League hopes are now hanging in the balance after they surrendered a one-goal lead to lose out to the Danish champions in a 2-1 defeat.

Memphis Depay put United in the lead, but Pione Sisto levelled the game up before half-time with a wonderful solo effort.

Substitute Paul Onuachu then scored the winner in the second half to give his side a memorable win, and heaping more pressure on United boss Van Gaal.

After a poor performance in the Europa League last-32 first leg tie, the Dutchman said after the match that the defeat was down to “the law of Murphy”.

Speaking to BT Sport 2, Van Gaal said: “When you start the game and your goalkeeper is number 14 (players out injured) then you are not starting like usual I think.

“A lot of things are happening in the heads of the players and the first 10 or 15 minutes we were not so good.

“But after that we came in the match, we scored, we could have scored more.

“The second half we didn’t win any duel, any second ball. You cannot afford a second goal, but we could have scored also, Jesse Lingard had two remarkable chances, so it is the law of Murphy I think.”

The 65-year-old also added that the injury sustained in the warm-up by goalkeeper David de Gea, forcing him out of the tie, was a knee problem for the Spaniard.

He added: “We have to wait and see, we have to investigate tomorrow with a scan, we cannot answer now.”