Van Gaal: United can still win title

Man United 0 Tottenham 0

Van Gaal was correct to say United played their best 45 minutes under him in the first-half, but through the brilliance of Hugo Lloris and their own profligacy, they failed to take their chances against a Spurs side who habitually capitulate to the likes of Chelsea and City.

And United’s failure to make the most of their dominance in the first-half almost came back to haunt their leg-weary players after the break as the fitter home side took control of the game and could have nicked all three points, when Harry Kane was wrestled to the ground by Wayne Rooney.

Yet it was far from the sort of exciting classic these two sides have traditionally served up over the years, a fact Van Gaal accepted.

He said: “It was an ugly game. You could see also the difference in the second-half — it was not football any more, it was a struggle.”

Van Gaal made it clear before kick-off and repeated his claims afterwards two days is not enough time for today’s players to recover from the exertions of top flight football.

“It is scientifically proven the human body cannot recover in 48 hours. The players were tired.”

Surprisingly, given the manager’s concerns, United were unchanged for the first time in over two years, and the decision looked good as they took control of the game from the start. Juan Mata was at the heart of their best moves and the Spaniard went close in the 22nd minute when his free-kick took a deflection off Tottenham’s defensive wall and hit the inside of Lloris’s post.

Radamel Falcao and Robin Van Persie were both waiting to poke the rebound home, but somehow Vlad Chiriches cleared the ball off the line. A minute later, the ball did cross the line despite Lloris’ best efforts, but referee Jon Moss ruled Phil Jones had been offside before heading home. The best chance fell to Van Persie when Michael Carrick’s floated forward pass set the Dutchman clean in on goal, but Lloris tackled with his feet and then gathered the loose ball.

Tottenham’s French keeper made his best save moments before half-time, however, when he clawed away a long shot from Ashley Young that was curling towards the far corner of goal. Spurs had offered little threat up to that point, mostly long shots from Kane, Andros Townsend and Nacer Chadli. But they were much better after the break as Christian Eriksen found his feet, and the Dane had a shot deflected away from goal. United’s chances were fewer but just as good as in the first half. Falcao set up Van Persie for a volley that went over the bar, and Mata hit a good chance even higher.

Townsend stung De Gea’s hands with a fierce shot after going past two defenders, and was then bundled over by Ashley Young, who had already been cautioned. Luckily for the United man, Moss declined to give either a foul or second yellow card for Young. And the referee drew more anger from the home crowd in the closing stages when he failed to spot Rooney wrapping his arms around Kane before throwing him to the ground in the United penalty area.

Federico Fazio moved up from the Tottenham defence to try his luck, having one shot saved and putting two headers off target, as did his defensive partner Jan Vertonghen as Spurs pressed for the winning goal.

Eriksen, so often Spurs’ match winner with late goals, went close again with a fierce free-kick De Gea punched away at full stretch, and then Kane set up Ryan Mason for a clear chance in the closing stages, only to see his team-mate lash his shot over the bar. So it finished goalless, and Mauricio Pochettino was clearly happier with a point than his counterpart.

“The first-half United had more chances than us but in the second-half we had more. In the end the result was fair,” said the Argentinian.

Asked if it was a missed opportunity, Van Gaal said: “Of course. We were playing a top six club and when you play like that, and create six to eight chances, open chances, you have to finish that. “When you draw at Tottenham and Aston Villa, after having been the better team, it makes it very difficult to be the champions.”

But he maintains his belief United can yet win the title: “Yes, still, because we are improving with every game. We shall be better — so watch.”

TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Lloris 9; Chiriches 5, Fazio 5, Vertonghen 7, Davies 6; Stambouli 6, Mason 7; Townsend 7, Eriksen 6 Chadli 6; Kane 7.

Tottenham subs: Dembele for Townsend 78, Lamela for Chadli 78

MAN UNITED (3-5-2): De Gea 7; Jones 6, McNair 6, Evans 5, Valencia 6, Carrick 7, Mata 8, Rooney 6, Young 6; Falcao 6, Van Persie 6.

Man United subs: Rafael for Valencia 46, Smalling for Evans 72, Shaw for McNair 75

Referee: Jonathan Moss.