Louis van Gaal says Manchester United cannot play 4-4-2 because it gives him "a twitchy ass".
United boss Van Gaal has come under fire for persisting with three at the back, a system many of their fans and ex-players feel inhibits the former champions.
But ahead of United's FA Cup trip to League Two Cambridge United, Van Gaal revealed why he is sticking with his much-maligned system.
Former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson coined the phrase "squeaky bum time" and now Van Gaal has delivered his own memorable saying.
"I know the stats are giving the positive results that we have won more with 4-4-2 in a diamond," he said. "But when you analyse the game then we have twitched our ass on the bench.
"I said to my players I was 'squeezing my ass', but it was the wrong expression. I have twitched my ass on the bench because we were out of balance.
We lost the game against Leicester City 5-3 and that was undeserved. And all the matches when we play with 4-4-2, like against West Ham, it was always twitching your ass and I don't like it.
"Maybe then you see, after I switch the system, we have won nine or ten in a row.
"Then we lose one match and then the discussion about the system is coming, so it's ridiculous. In the last 15 games we only lost one [to Southampton] and that was undeserved - we were the better team."
Van Gaal is expected to stick with 3-5-2 for the visit to Cambridge, despite being without injured defenders Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling, as well as wing-back Ashley Young.
United legend Gary Neville claimed his former club had become "predictable" playing 3-5-2 and that their tempo was "slow" under that system.
But Van Gaal said he had no time for critics of his approach and insisted he would not be swayed into changing his style by fans or pundits.
No comments:
Post a Comment