Friday 6 May 2016 13:07, UK
Louis van Gaal claims injuries are the primary reason for Manchester United’s disappointing form this season.
United face an uphill battle to finish in the top four this season as they trail fourth-placed Manchester City by four points, although they do have a game in hand on their city rivals with fixtures against Norwich, West Ham and Bournemouth remaining for Van Gaal's side.
The month of December was a particularly damaging one for the Man United as they crashed out of the Champions League in the group stages after losing to Wolfsburg and took just two points from five league fixtures, with three straight losses to Bournemouth, Norwich and Stoke City sandwiched between home draws with West Ham and Chelsea.
But Van Gaal believes the season could have played out differently had his squad enjoyed better luck with injuries.
"I always talk about facts, not about hypothetical circumstance and activities. I can only say that in the end of November we had first position, after that we had a big decline," said Van Gaal.
"It's a big damage, but the month of December has its own reasons for that.
"You have to cope with that. That is what we have to do. But when the injuries are so much in the same position, you cannot solve every problem anymore.
"These are the facts. But you can never say that if we didn't have so many injuries that we would be first, because I have great respect for the champions, Leicester City.
"When I say we had injuries it's not respectful to the champions, and they deserve it.
"But you see what we have done against the top five, you can see what we have done against the bottom five, and that is not a good average."
One of the side's responsible for Van Gaal's miserable December were Saturday's opponents Norwich, as they recorded an upset 2-1 win at Old Trafford on December 19.
Van Gaal has not forgotten that defeat and, although he says United's primary focus remains securing fourth, if they gain revenge for that result at the same time he will view it as an added bonus.
"We have to win our matches because otherwise we cannot be in the first four - that's the pressure that we have. We have to fight until the end," Van Gaal added.
"They (Norwich) won at Old Trafford, so we have to take revenge also.
"It's always difficult to fight against a team that fights to maintain their position in the Premier League from relegation.
"That's always very difficult to fight against, but that is not an excuse. We have to cope with that. It shall be a very tough game but in spite of that we have to win."
