Louis Van Gaal has admitted he’d been branded as “crazy” had United failed to win against Arsenal on Saturday, where the Dutch manager chose to deploy a three-man defence.
United had started their season with a 3-5-2 formation, which was subsequently shelved as players looked far from comfortable with it until the trip to the Emirates, where United’s back three comprised Chris Smalling, Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett.
“When you saw my team before the game, you might think that I was crazy, but I’m not crazy,” Van Gaal said.
“If Arsenal had scored in the first 20 minutes then it would have been a different game and I would be being questioned about why I played with three defenders, but now I can laugh.
“I am confident that I made the right decision.
“When you make the right decision it is a quality decision – I can say that now.
“That is the life of a manager. The result of the game decides whether you are right or not.”
Van Gaal added he was disappointed by United’s performance in the first half but was pleased to see his team growing into the game as the game went on.
“I wasn’t pleased with the way we played in the first half,” the United manager said.
“But were playing against a top team and we have won away from home for the first time. It was the right moment for us to do that.
“In the first 25 minutes we gave the ball away too easily and that is not possible if you want to be a top team.
“Arsenal created a lot of chances, but after the first 25 minutes we came back and created a few possibilities of our own.”
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