Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has braced himself for the local affair at Manchester City and hopes his charges get off to a fast start on Sunday.
The Dutch boss, 63, has managed derby games in Holland, Germany and Spain, with the ‘El Clasico’ one of those fixtures that easily reflects in one’s subconscious. As he continues to chart new course in England, the former Barcelona tutor admits the Manchester derby has all tendencies to go down as “the biggest derby” he shall manage.
“It is one of the 38 matches we have to play but, for the fans, it is unbelievably big as a rivalry,” stated van Gaal. “I have felt that, also with a lot of the players in the squad but especially with Ryan Giggs.”
Fresh from a 1-1 draw at home to leaders Chelsea, Van Gaal admits confidence is at a healthy level and will be looking to capitalise on City’s poor run of form. Manuel Pellegrini’s men are winless in their last three matches but the manager warns there is need to be at alert.
“When you lose, it’s a very bad week for the Manchester United fans but also for the manager of Manchester United. I can assure you of that.
“Our goal is to win the game. It is possible. We are growing, we are developing ourselves. What we have seen of City in the last matches was not so good. But that was also [the case] last year, warns Giggs. You never know.”
Assistant manager Giggs is responsible for oppositions’ analyses and also presents his findings to the players.
Having served in the same role under David Moyes in the last campaign, when the ‘Red Devils’ were thrashed 4-1 at the Ethad Stadium and being privy of a vast knowledge of local derbies from his playing days, Van Gaal explained how the 40-year-old Welshman was unable to hide his passion during pep talks and preparations.
He noted: “When he (Giggs) presented the analysis on City, I felt more tension with him. It was good to see that.
“Everywhere it is the same because the derby is between rivals in the city. He knows it, he has the experience as a player and now as an assistant manager. We don’t have to accelerate this feeling because it is football and you have to play the game, not only a game with emotion but also in a tactical way. That we are doing, that is how we are preparing. He has transferred the idea of emotion and I have transferred the idea of how we have to play.”
One way United will have to play is to hit the ground running and manifest every salient opening on the scoreboard, according to Van Gaal. They made good progression with the ball at home to Chelsea last Sunday, but waited until dying minutes for Robin van Persie’s leveler after Didier Drogba’s strike early into the second half.
“I hope we can score out of our first chance because we have created a lot of chances against Chelsea,” he said. “I think always in our games that we have played in the Premier League, we didn’t score from our first chance and then it is more easy to win the game.”
The other way is for players like Marouane Fellaini, who has been in top form since scoring his first United goal in the 2-2 draw with West Ham at Old Trafford, to “continue” laying siege in the middle of the park. The Bulgarian’s header led to Van Persie’s late strike against Chelsea and is highly favoured to continue in his role.
“He (Fellaini) has made a great contribution and also the assist for the [Chelsea] goal,” he remarked. “He has had a lot of time out injured but when he is fit I have played him. He has to continue with that because then I am very pleased.”
Van Gaal is “very disappointed” that seven of his players are yet sidelined for the derby, but laughed off reports suggesting that Wayne Rooney was a doubt with a foot problem. As well as the skipper, Antonio Valencia returns but Radamel Falcao has been ruled out through injury.
“Rooney was not injured,” Van Gal. “The media was writing that but he was never injured. Maybe his shoes were too tight, that is possible, but he was never injured.
“He shall play, he is my captain. That is all I can say to you.”
