Tuesday 9 December 2014 16:06, UK
Louis van Gaal insists Manchester United have enough strength in depth to play through their current injury crisis and avoid the January sales.
The Dutchman claimed United can cope, despite Chris Smalling's groin problem further stretching resources after the England defender was withdrawn early in the 2-1 victory at Southampton.
Do we have to buy players? No. We have more than enough
Robin van Persie's double sneaked United past their hosts at St Mary's, but the Old Trafford side struggled tactically and defensively for large spells of the match.
Van Gaal shrugged off criticism of his defensive stocks after switching England midfielder Michael Carrick into a makeshift backline role midway through the first half.
"When you have injuries, you cannot solve the problem otherwise," said van Gaal. "Do we have to buy players? No. We have more than enough."
Van Gaal admitted he hopes van Persie is now approaching top form after a post-World Cup lull.
"I hope that he is improving, I have to say I was very pleased with his performance and also his goals," van Gaal said of his comaptriot.
"The second goal was not so easy, because the ball from Wayne Rooney was coming for his right foot and he took it with his left; so it's a nice touch.
"Momentum, things of this sort, these are rhetorical questions. It's fantastic to be third in the table, but I had hoped we would manage that with a better performance."
