Louis Van Gaal and Wayne Rooney Slam Manchester United Players After Worst Day

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has afforded his players no room to hide in the aftermath of their 5-3 defeat to Leicester City, insisting the game was one of the worst of his distinguished managerial career.

The Red Devils were cruising after goals from Robin van Persie, Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera put them 3-1 in front but four second-half goals from the Foxes saw them run out 5-3 winners in a stunning game of football at the King Power Stadium.

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Van Gaal insisted he’s only ever suffered one other defeat like this in his time as a boss and blasted his team’s surrender following the match, per Mike Walters of the Mirror:

"

I’ve been in this profession for 25 years and the only other experience I’ve known like that was in my first year as coach at Barcelona. We were three goals ahead with a quarter of the match to play and lost 3-4. 

That was also at a top club, but you never expect that to happen when you’re 3-1 ahead and are leading by two goals for the second time.

It can happen in football, but it’s not good because we had the game in our pocket and we gave it away—not because of Leicester but we gave it away, and I don’t like that.

"

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According to Neil Ashton and Laurie Whitwell of the Daily Mail, Van Gaal tore a strip off his players after they surrendered a two-goal lead, and to further add to the Dutchman’s misery, an injury to Jonny Evans will do little to help alleviate United’s clear defensive deficiencies.

Club captain Wayne Rooney was visibly furious after his team caved in at the back, and he was in no mood to sugarcoat things after the game, either, per Sky Sports:

"

Going 3-1 up especially and then losing the game, it’s hard to take. We should have done better as a team, seen the game out and won it from the position we were in. (There were) some mistakes and we didn’t do well enough as a team to stop their goals.

It’s a game where we played some great stuff, scored some great goals and conceded some sloppy goals. We have to do better; we know that—as a team we have to do better. 

"

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Rooney himself wasn't completely blameless, though, and although he was in something of a rage following Leicester's equalising goal, it was his error that led to the concession of it, as noted by ESPN's Iain Macintosh:

After United’s 4-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers the previous week, thoughts immediately had turned to the Leicester clash. Sure, the Red Devils—galvanised by a swathe of new signings—were impressive, but had they been suitably tested by Harry Redknapp’s side? Probably not, and Leicester proved to be a much sterner examination of their credentials.

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As soon as the Foxes were forced to come forward and put pressure on United's back four, the Red Devils crumbled. There was no cohesion, no leadership and no discipline in defensive areas, and perhaps most worrying, when the score went to 3-3, there was dearth of fight to haul themselves back in front.

All in all, Van Gaal should have had a pretty comfortable start to life at Old Trafford. He was afforded a seemingly blank cheque when it came to signings, and the fixtures should have allowed him the chance to accrue some early momentum. But it's five games into the season now, and United have just one victory under the Dutchman's tutelage.

Indeed, his much maligned predecessor actually steered United to a better set of results from comparable fixtures, as Daniel Storey of Football365 noted:

At this juncture, United look like a team playing without defensive conviction and direction. But it is, of course, early days when it comes to the Dutchman's tenure and after making myriad summer investments he deserves time to turn things around.

But with some difficult fixtures looming and no opportunity to bolster the creaking back line, perhaps it won't be the last time we see United involved in an eight-goal thriller this season. Those of a red persuasion will be hoping that next time they're on the right end of the result.