Louis van Gaal hits back at Paul Scholes with sticks and stones jibe
Scholes said following the Capital One Cup defeat to Middlesbrough that he would not want to play for the current side and that the team appeared unwilling to take any risks.
United’s Dutch manager, speaking ahead of United’s trip to Crystal Palace, insisted he does have an attacking philosophy and brushed off Scholes’ remarks.
“I think Manchester United is always entertaining but when I read the papers I see that it is boring,” said Van Gaal. “You have a saying in England that sticks and stones can break my bones but names can never hurt me.
“You play for the fans, therefore I say to you that the stadium is still full and that, in the Capital One Cup, is unbelievable. That is not normal, so they like the way we have played.
“In spite of the defeat, when we were going to our dressing room, they were applauding.
“When you go out of the cup, the next day is always like that. As manager of Manchester United you know you’re going to have a hard time.” Asked if the next phase in United’s development under him was to start taking risks, Van Gaal replied: “Now you are agreeing with the opinion of Paul Scholes. I don’t agree with his opinion. I always take risks.
“But I don’t want to defend myself as he is a legend and he has a lot of resonance, I hear.”
United have scored the fewest goals among the top six in the Premier League but Van Gaal feels Wayne Rooney and his fellow players may be trying too hard to score goals.
Van Gaal said: “Players are human beings and they want to score goals but maybe they want it too much and maybe then the choices are not always good.
“Maybe he (Rooney) is doing too much, because you never know as a player how you can improve your shape or your finishing. It can also (create) a lot of doubt and I try to influence that.
“But it can be too hard and then your mental state shall be a little bit less and that has an influence on everything and that’s the most difficult thing as a manager and player to cope with.
“When I was manager of Bayern Munich, the striker was Gomez and he touched the ball nine times on an average in a game - the highest 14 touches - but he scored every game.
Van Gaal also revealed he has injury problems for the Crystal Palace match with Memphis Depay, Antonio Valencia and James Wilson all out of the trip to London.
Depay and Wilson were both injured in the Middlesbrough game while Valencia hurt his foot in the Manchester derby last weekend.
Palace boss Alan Pardew fears Wayne Rooney’s current frustration makes him “dangerous”, fearing Rooney will answer his critics and says Palace will have to be on their guard.
“I think Wayne, throughout most of his career, has been at the top of the pitch or just back one in the number 10 role,” said Pardew.
“He plays both roles very well. He is at the top of the pitch now and maybe he is not getting the service he would probably want in that.
“I can see a little bit of frustration in him but that makes him dangerous. Rooney has proved many times, particularly when he gets criticism, that he can deliver.
“We’ll be on our guard for Wayne. He’s an outstanding player, he’s the England captain and we’ll give him the respect he deserves.”
Palace have lost their last three matches with the 5-1 reverse at City coming on the back of league defeats to West Ham and Leicester.
Injuries have hit them hard, but Pardew hopes to have the likes of Joel Ward, Connor Wickham and Marouanne Chamakh back to full fitness after the international break.
“We have Manchester United and then Liverpool, so this little run is a real test,” he added.
“But I still think if a bit of fortune had gone our way we could have picked up points. There is a lot of good news in the background here in terms of the injuries we have had.
“If we can pick up some points in the next two games I’ll be really happy, then we will be well set for Newcastle after the international break.
“I’m looking forward to Manchester United. It will be a great occasion. We are very proud to have them here for the third year running, it’s the first time that has happened, and it’s about time Crystal Palace beat United.
“We have to keep it bubbling along. If we can stay in the game until the last 15 minutes we have a chance of winning it.”
Jason Puncheon returns for Palace after missing out at City through illness but Yohan Cabaye needs a late fitness check
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
