Why don't you shoot?' Van Gaal AGREES with Man Utd critics

The Red Devils did not muster a single shot in the first half against City, and did not force Joe Hart into a save until the 89th minute, and the Dutchman is worried by what he saw 
Louis Van Gaal says his philosophy is not to blame for Manchester United's lack of shots against rivals City on Sunday, and insists he DID encourage his players to shoot more at the half-time interval.





The Red Devils did not register a single shot in the first half of a match for the first time since Opta began recording statistics back in 2003, and Van Gaal admits he was unimpressed with his side's lack of bite at Old Trafford.

"I said at half-time that we can also shoot from outside the box, you don't have to wait for the 16-metre area," explained the Dutchman. "That was my remark also, I thought 'You can shoot, why don't you shoot?'"

Asked if his team were too preoccupied with trying to score the perfect goal, he continued: "I like the question because I see that also but I don't have time yet to see my players and speak to them."
One culprit for United's lack of firepower was the out-of-sorts Wayne Rooney, but Van Gaal refused to discuss his skipper and instead pointed out City's excellent defensive performance.

"I have to talk every week about Rooney, why? Write it down, it's your opinion. I don't give any more answers about Wayne Rooney because I'm sick of it.

"We should have scored one of our three chances, although [Jesse] Lingard did very well and it wasn't easy for him. But it was so difficult with the way they played so organised and played on the counter-attack. It's just like the game against Moscow - they were also organised."

Asked if only one side had turned up to win, he continued: "You have to ask not me but my colleague. You have seen that Manchester United has attacked. They have the right to play compact and they have done it.

"They have a fantastic team on the counter-attack but we have controlled that. I am disappointed that we don't have the luck because I have seen on the video that [Ander] Herrera - it was a penalty - but the referee has not given us the benefit.

"Of course I can see the video, that he doesn't touch the ball but the legs of Herrera. But that luck we don't have this season, though I understand it is not easy for the referee, but it is not the first time I see it has gone that was."