Tuesday 12 April 2016 06:28, UK
Louis van Gaal says Manchester United will need to nullify the threat posed by West Ham forward Andy Carroll if they are to keep their FA Cup hopes alive.
Carroll scored a stunning 10-minute hat-trick in the 3-3 Premier League draw with Arsenal on Saturday - his first three goal haul for nearly six years - and is likely to start for the Hammers against United in their FA Cup quarter-final replay at the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday.
Van Gaal watched United ship three goals in six second-half minutes to lose 3-0 at Tottenham on Sunday and he is well aware that a similar display could spell the end of his side's FA Cup chances.
"I've seen the Andy Carroll show [against Arsenal] and I think our problem against Tottenham was also the miscommunication of our central defenders," the United manager said.
"I hope that we improve our communication because it is very important this game for us.
"Carroll has special qualities. We have seen that in the match that he played on Saturday. It was also against Arsenal and they have great central defenders but still he could do that.
"So we have to cope with Andy Carroll and not only Andy Carroll, the other players.
"They have a certain player called Dimitri Payet for example, he can also play, and [Manuel] Lanzini can also score goals."
West Ham have not lost at the Boleyn Ground since August and Van Gaal was keen to point out that the Hammers will enjoy the benefit of an extra day's rest ahead of the cup clash.
"It is our last chance of a title so it is very important for the players, the club, the manager and the fans," he added.
"And still we have one day less than West Ham United. That's also important. We have proved against Arsenal and Manchester City, in spite of less days to recover, we could beat them.
"So I hope we can recover very good, also mentally because the defeat to Tottenham was a blow of course. Everybody knows this is the last chance."
Wayne Rooney continued his recovery from a knee injury by playing 60 minutes for United's U21s against Middlesbrough on Monday, but he is unlikely to be involved against West Ham.
