Van Gaal blames Man United errors for draw
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal blamed individual errors for his side's failure to beat West Brom in the Premier League on Monday.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yedcxDAZrcREHDvfjSq6VJ-1000-80.jpg)
United appeared set for a third defeat in eight games in the English top flight but were rescued three minutes from time by Daley Blind, who cancelled out Saido Berahino's 66th minute strike with his first goal to give the visitors a share of the spoils.
Earlier, United substitute Marouane Fellaini opened his account to level following Stephane Sessegnon's fine opening goal for the home side but, despite Blind's late heroics, Van Gaal was disappointed not to have taken maximum points from a game in which he thought United produced their best performance of the campaign.
"I'm very disappointed because we played our best match of the season and the result is not good enough," Van Gaal told Sky Sports.
"We could have won but could have doesn't count in our world.
"We created a lot of chances and only two shots from West Brom were goals. We gave it away with our individual errors."
Van Gaal felt his defence afforded West Brom too much space but believes the players are adapting better to his philosophy in the 4-1-4-1 formation he deployed at The Hawthorns.
"They are playing more narrow in midfield and our lateral defenders have to push up, we prepared but we gave too much space," Van Gaal added.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
"I'm looking for balance and maybe with this formation but with the same philosophy we could do better. The players understand better this philosophy with this formation."
Although the Dutchman is seeing improvements in United's play, he is not satisfied with their points tally of 12 from eight games.
"It's not too good. I think when we see the games, normally we are the better team," he said.
"When you have 12 points out of eight games, in my opinion it is eight points too few."
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack