Safety first for the Manchester United boss.
A Saturday evening win for United would have seen them finish the weekend on top of the Premier League. Instead, they drew 1-1 with Leicester City and Louis van Gaal bemoaned an opportunity missed.
The closest the Dutchman’s side came to scoring a second was late on when Matteo Darmian’s rising shot from the edge of the Foxes’ box fizzed over.
Van Gaal did not mind that, but he did take issue with the attacking instincts of Darmian’s fellow defensive teammate, Paddy McNair.
The United coach highlighted a Leicester counter-attack, midway the second half, that led to Leonardo Ulloa having a goal-bound effort repelled by the sprawled legs of David De Gea.
McNair had been pressed high up the pitch, at the time, and did not make it back to prevent the opening.
By the time McNair got back to the box, De Gea had already saved the day.
Van Gaal said, “In the second half, I was waiting on our goal but it didn’t come.
“They also had a good chance; we gave the ball away because McNair thought he was a striker at that moment and then the channels were open and then they could run in them.”
Marcos Rojo could return for the weekend visit of West Ham to Old Trafford. If so, McNair is likely to drop back to the bench while Daley Blind resumes his centre back partnership with Chris Smalling.
Next time the Northern Irishman does play, keep an eye out for the amount of times he crosses the halfway line.
