Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal was pleased with an away win in the third round of the FA Cup after his side overcame a compact Yeovil Town to win the game 2-0.
The game was very slow for most of the 90 minutes as both teams struggled to carve out chances and test the opposition goalkeepers, but United finally found the breakthrough in the 64th minute thanks to a wonderful strike by Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera. Despite the goal, Yeovil kept looking for half chances but couldn’t trouble goalkeeper David De Gea. Van Gaal’s side finally wrapped up the win after an Angel Di Maria goal in the extra time all but finished the League 1 side.
The Dutchman told BT Sport, “It’s always difficult to play against such teams. They gave us not so much time and every ball came under pressure. I have lot of respect for the players and coach of Yeovil Town – it was not so easy for us.
“In the second half, we had a little bit more time and space, we played better and were more patient. We kept the ball better also and, because of that, we could score the winning goal.
“We dominated the game, more so in the second half. They had one chance from a set-piece, but we were organised and Angel Di Maria cleared it away. It’s just simple organisation. I think they maybe had one more chance after a mistake from one of my players, but that’s it.”
He also revealed that despite a little bit of luck, Herrera’s goal was a touch of genius which lifted the pressure of his players’ shoulders, “It was class, and not his first from outside the box. It had a little bit of luck, but you need that, I’m very happy for him.”
After a tough opening game, Van Gaal will hope that his side can kick on in the competition after admitting a few days ago that the FA Cup is his side’s only realistic chance of winning a trophy.