Van Gaal apologises for Manchester United’s exit at the group stages of the Champions League.

Louis van Gaal insists he loves proving his critics wrong – but has apologised for Manchester United’s exit at the group stages of the Champions League.

United’s performances this season have been widely criticised, with Van Gaal’s ‘philosophy’ coming in for plenty of stick.

Although our article urged United fans to stay patient with Van Gaal, we also accepted that United may need to consider replacing the Dutchman in the summer following the exit at the group stages of the Champions League.

However, responding to claims that Van Gaal is ‘past it’, the Dutchman said: “I have read already in the media that I am 64 and I am too old. Last year I was good enough to get Holland to third at the World Cup.

“I read the same things 20 years ago. When we went out at the group stage with Barcelona, they wrote the same thing – that my touch has gone. It is always like that. I cannot change that.

“I cannot change what is in your mind. I can only say the facts.

“The facts are this – we are out of the group stage, yes, I am very sorry. But I have done everything I could, as have my players and my board.

“But, you cannot win every game and every year a title.”

Van Gaal claims some of the criticism of his patched up team’s performance in Germany has been over the top.

“I didn’t see you say anything positive for (Guillermo) Varela or (Cameron) Borthwick-Jackson,” Van Gaal said of the two young full-backs who played on Tuesday due to an injury crisis.

“You can see that as a positive. Memphis (Depay) is 21, (Jesse) Lingard 22, (Anthony) Martial, 20… Still we could hurt the number two of Germany. But we have lost. I am sorry.”

When asked whether he had doubted himself following the loss in Germany, Van Gaal replied: “No, I don’t have any doubts.”

Van Gaal received yet more bad news on Thursday when Bastian Schweinsteiger was banned for three matches for violent conduct following an elbow on Winston Reid in the 0-0 draw against West Ham last weekend.

Fellaini backs his manager

Marouane Fellaini has insisted Manchester United players “trust” under-fire manager Louis van Gaal.

Van Gaal’s reign has under significant scrutiny recently after United suffering a demoralising exit at the Champions League group stage in midweek.

Reports on Thursday claimed that player were growing increasingly ‘baffled’ with the Dutchman’s tactics and methods, but Fellaini has backed his manager.

“It is a tough month but we have to continue like this,” he told NBC Sports. “We know as Manchester United the expectation from us is high.

“Now we are focused, we know what we are doing. So, we will see but we are there. I am sure the goals will come and the chances as well.

“We trust him (van Gaal). He is the manager, it is his philosophy and we have to continue like that.”

When asked if United, who are fourth and three points behind leaders Leicester, can win the Premier League title for the first time since 2013 this season, Fellaini added: “Yes, of course. At the moment we are in the top four, we are there.”

Suspensions and injuries have curtailed much of Fellaini’s season so far, with the Belgian making just two starts in his seven appearances in the league. The 28-year-old is eager to take advantage of his opportunity in the first team, with injuries hitting much of United’s squad.

“I didn’t start the season because I was banned three games,” Fellaini said. “After that I would just come in 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes – that’s football.

“The manager decides but I am sure my time will come and I will show myself. I can help and I can play as well. Last season I scored goals and I did well. I’m sure my time will come and I will play.”

Sven Bender: Open to EL meeting with Klopp's Liverpool

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Sven Bender says the club would be “delighted” to be pitted against Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp if the sides draw one another in the Europa League.

Klopp left Dortmund at the end of last season after seven hugely successful years in charge, and eventually joined Liverpool in October after a five-month sabbatical.

With Dortmund finishing only second in their Europa League group after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to PAOK in their final game, the Germans could draw Liverpool in the round-of-32 after Klopp’s side topped their group.

Bender, who played for Klopp from 2009 until his departure earlier this year, says Dortmund would be “delighted” to be reunited with their former manager, but that the Germans would “have to hurt him”.

“Those games would certainly be highlights,” Bender told the club’s TV channel. “We’d be delighted should it come to this. But we’d have to hurt him [Klopp].

“You can’t avoid the big teams when you want to go far. We’ll take them as they come, and try to advance to the next round.

Klopp’s predecessor, Thomas Tuchel, added, on a potential meeting with Klopp: “The later, the better.”

Trophies not guaranteed - Louis Van Gaal

Louis van Gaal has told Manchester United fans to deal with their Champions League exit by warning them not to compare the side to 10 years ago and expect them to win trophies.

United crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage on Tuesday when they suffered a 3-2 defeat to Wolfsburg.

Van Gaal’s critics again railed against the Dutchman in the wake of the defeat.

Paul Scholes labelled United ”average” while his former team-mate Rio Ferdinand said dropping into the Europa League was ”an embarrassment”.

But if United fans were looking for a rallying cry from their manager in the wake of the humbling defeat, they did not get one.

Van Gaal was asked at a press conference on the eve of United’s trip to Bournemouth whether he could make up for the club’s Champions League exit by winning the Premier League.

“No. It is difficult,” the United manager said.

“You (the media) want to raise the expectations. We shall do everything to win something but it is very difficult.

“For the fans it shall be like that. But I want to manage the expectation. It is not as easy as everybody thinks.

“You can see what is happening in the Premier League every week. It is not so easy.

When questioned further, a defensive Van Gaal said:  “You have to analyse the club as it isnow.

“You cannot compare it with 10 years ago, because there is an evolution in football and in European football.”

Van Gaal was criticised heavily for failing to lead Barcelona out of the group stages 18 years ago, and he responded by winning the Spanish league.

To achieve the same feat in England with United will be harder according to the Dutchman, who thinks the gap is closing between the clubs at the top and bottom of the Premier League and across Europe.

“The world has changed,” Van Gaal said.

“In 1997 I was out of the group stages with Barcelona. They are also a big club, there was also a lot of criticism in the media. But then we won the title. That was minor criticism at that time.

“Only one club can win the Champions League each season. It is not so easy to do that, now.

“Then three or four clubs had great money. Now we have much more clubs who have the money.

“It is the same in the Premier League. Next year, all the clubs in the Premier League have a bigger budget than most of the clubs in Europe.”

Rafael - Am happy with my move to Ligue 1

Former Manchester United full-back Rafael has admitted his love of the game suffered under Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford.

The Lyon defender was allowed to leave United for just £2.5million in August after only featuring 11 times for the club under Van Gaal last season.

Rafael admits he remains unhappy at how his seven-year association with Manchester United came to an end – but insists he’s happy to have made the move to Ligue 1 with Lyon.

“Consistency is everything in football. You get games, you feel better,” he said.

“You enjoy it more and your fitness is better. When you’ve not played for a long time it’s very hard for the player.

“When Van Gaal arrived I could see I wasn’t in the plan. When you’re a player you can feel it, you can see that.

“The 10 games I played I thought I played very well apart from Leicester [a 5-3 away defeat]. It’s hard to know.

“I had some choices to go in England, but in the end I wanted to try something different. It’s good to challenge yourself.”

Rafael was speaking ahead of this weekend’s clash between PSG and Lyon.

Rafael also questioned Van Gaal’s style of play at United and implored the manager to start entertaining supporters.

“To be honest I didn’t really enjoy to play when Van Gaal was there,” he added.

“Everyone is different. Results matter so if they can win the league it will be a different story.

“I like to enjoy myself, to try things and do stuff. Last year I wasn’t doing that.

“I watch them play and I’ve heard some things as well… But it’s hard. Football is for the fans. They want to see good football.”

Lukaku and Giroud to beat the bookies

Dave Tindall is tipping Romelu Lukaku and Olivier Giroud to continue their goalscoring heroics and bank more profits this weekend.

The weekly column successfully returned a 50/1 acca last month.

Premier League Top Scorers

14 Jamie Vardy (Leicester) Last 6 in all comps: 0-1-1-1-1-0 = 4

11 Romelu Lukaku (Everton) Last 6 games: 1-1-1-2-1-1 = 7

10 Riyad Mahrez (Leicester) Last 6 games: 3-0-0-0-2-1 = 6

8 Odion Ighalo (Watford) Last 6 games: 1-1-0-0-2-0 = 4

8 Harry Kane (Tottenham) Last 6 games: 0-0-1-2-1-1 = 5

8 Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) Last 6 games: 3-1-0-0-1-0 = 5

Analysis: Jamie Vardy might now have come back down to earth while, despite a treble last weekend, Leicester team-mate Riyad Mahrez is passed by for the home game against Chelsea as he does the vast majority of his scoring on the road (eight of his last nine goals have come away from the King Power Stadium).

So, turn to another hat-trick hero and back Olivier Giroud at odds-against to find the net at struggling Aston Villa on Sunday. With four goals in his last two games, his confidence is high.

Romelu Lukaku also has to be followed having netted in each of his last six games. The Belgian has another obvious chance to extend his streak when Everton travel to Norwich on Saturday lunchtime. Note that nine of Lukaku’s 14 goals in all competitions this season have come on the road.

Cesc Fabregas reveals he held talks over Real Madrid move

Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has revealed that he held talks over a Real Madrid move on several occasions in the past.

Fabregas was frequently linked with the Bernabeu giants during the course of his eight-year spell at former club Arsenal before he re-joined Barcelona in the summer of 2011.

The Spain international has now revealed that talk of a move to Real Madrid went beyond mere speculation.

When asked if he was ever close to becoming a Real Madrid player, he told Marca: “Well, there were contacts over several years and with different presidents. An agreement was never concluded. There were things, but there was no final agreement. It lacked the step forward.”

Fabregas was back on form for Spain during the international break, providing a chipped assist for Mario Gaspar’s stunning volley against England in Alicante.

Things have not been going as well at club level, with Chelsea just three points off the relegation zone after 12 games played. The midfielder admits his side must improve quickly to salvage their league campaign, but believes unity and stability under manager Jose Mourinho will be key to any turnaround. 

“It’s tough,” Fabregas continued. “Last season was excellent, despite the pain of the Champions League. We won the Premier League title and the Capital One Cup, that I had never won before. It was a spectacular year.

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“This season is a pain. Things are not going for us and the results don’t do justice to how we are playing. We are doing things better, but there’s no luck. We have to start winning now.

“With Mourinho [it’s] fine, fine. Obviously when you don’t win people say things, and when you win, everything is phenomenal. When you don’t win, everything is tougher, but we have to be united and strong with the fans and the boss.

“That’s the only thing that can take us forward. Nobody is going to help us. In the Champions League we can hurt the big teams, but in the Premier League we have to wake up now. Right now.”