Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has explained why he decided to drop Colombian striker Radamel Falcao for the 0-1 loss against Southampton, saying it was “tactical.”
“You have to look at the needs of your selection at the time,” said Van Gaal.
The Dutch coach added Falcao was left out so that cover could be provided for other players: “As a coach you have to take decisions and you have to look at the composition of your team and your selection and you have to look at your game plan.
“Therefore I have to decide that he is out of the 18 because I have to change, for example, Shaw and Di Maria.”
The loss which was the Saints first ever win at Old Trafford, and now sees United on the same number of points after 21 Premiership games as the Dutchman’s predecessor David Moyes.
When asked about that stat LVG said: “You have been waiting for the moment to tell me I have the same points as David Moyes.”
United failed to have a single shot on target, and for the neutral watching it seemed as though Ronald Koeman had the upper hand on his countryman, and with 20 minutes to go the only answer LGV could think of was to bring on Fellaini and send high crosses into the box.
Despite the loss LVG still thinks his side was the better team saying:
“We played a much better game than Southampton, and they were lucky to score out of nothing.
“They came for a draw, I believe, and they go away with a victory. That is disappointing.
“It is a bad result – we have to be better. We were the dominating team but you have to create more chances when you are the dominating team.
“We didn’t choose the right solutions in the third and fourth phase.”
