Manchester United vs. Leicester: Key Louis van Gaal Quotes from Pregame Presser

Manager Louis van Gaal has apparently ruled out Manchester United adding any fresh faces during the January transfer window. He made the claim during his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Leicester City at Old Trafford. That could rate as a blow to supporters of the goal-shy fourth-placed team in the Premier League.

However, Van Gaal appears confident in the strength of his current squad. That's despite an injury concern for Michael Carrick, along with fellow midfielder Darren Fletcher inching closer toward a switch to West Ham United.

But those factors seemingly won't be enough to encourage Van Gaal to make a few signings in the final days of this window, per Manchester Evening News writer Stuart Mathieson:

Any transfer plans Van Gaal might have had appeared to take a blow when potential target Kevin Strootman suffered a setback in his return from a long-term knee injury. That's according to ASRoma.it (h/t Manchester Evening News reporter Simon Bajkowski).

In this context, the situations regarding Carrick and Fletcher look more troublesome. Van Gaal confirmed the former is also set for a spell in the treatment room, per the club's official Twitter feed:

The 33-year-old's absence could cost United at two key positions. Carrick is still an asset in central midfield, particularly in a deep-lying role where his tough tackling and eye for a pass are invaluable.

But he's also a useful auxiliary centre-back. In fact, back in December, Mail Online writer Adrian Durham suggested the veteran England international had been United's best player at that position this season.

While that may be stretching a point, Van Gaal can ill afford to be without players who can help make his controversial 3-5-2 formation work. Just as important, without Carrick's bite in the midfield, United could use a player of Fletcher's tenacity and experience.

But the battling Scot seems set to swap Manchester for east London, with his manager confirming a move seems imminent:

These are the types of factors that will have United fans likely in disbelief that Van Gaal doesn't intend to add to his squad during the remainder of this window. As much as those fans may want reinforcements at the back and in the middle, United's biggest current problem is upfront.

This statistic from Squawka Football makes for depressing reading for a club seemingly armed with an embarrassment of attacking riches:

Van Gaal certainly didn't skirt the issue ahead of facing the Foxes. He called on his forward players to be more efficient:

That should be the minimum requirement for the likes of Robin van Persie, Radamel Falcao and Wayne Rooney. It beggars belief that a trio as talented, also benefiting from the supply of mercurial creators Angel Di Maria and Juan Mata, aren't finding the net with more regularity.

Van Gaal believes one aspect of United's approach play is the chief root of the problem:

Speeding up what has been largely pedestrian and cautious passing would certainly help. So would a refresh of how United set up for games.

Van Gaal's intransigence over tactics is creating a difficult relationship between the manager and United fans, according to Manchester Evening News reporter Rob Dawson.

Now, supporters can add his stance on transfers to their steadily growing lists of gripes.

Of course, winning cures all ills in sports. Gaining revenge for the 5-3 away defeat Leicester inflicted back in September would certainly restore some goodwill.