Sunday 9 November 2014 11:24, UK
A 'very happy' Louis van Gaal thought Manchester United deserved their 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Juan Mata's deflected second-half strike proved to be the difference between the two sides in a match which United dominated possession.
Things however could have been different had former United striker Fraizer campbell converted his one-one-one chance after a mix-up between central defenders Daley Blind and Paddy McNair at the end of the first half.
"I'm very happy and the players are very happy with the three points. I think we deserved the victory," said Van Gaal.
"It is always difficult to beat a team who are not coming to attack but to defend with two rows of four. There was little space and it's difficult to create chances. But inspite of that we did create possibilities in the first half and after the goal we created some big chances and we could have won by more goals.
"We needed patience and in the first half we played the ball well, but we could have done so with more speed. We waited for our chances and in the second half we could have scored more when they got tired.
"I am very pleased that the team decided to kill the game. We played back to [David] De Gea a bit too much and we need to do better with that."
Van Gaal was delighted with match-winner Mata's attitude after he scored within moments of replacing Adnan Januzaj.
"It is important for the player and for the team. I am very pleased for him because he has very good spirit; he is always very good in training and he has been rewarded today with the goal," added the United boss.
Van Gaal also confirmed that McNair had been substituted late on with cramp.
"He had cramp and that's why I had to change him, but we've won every game when Paddy McNair plays and I was hesitating to change him.
"I have to deal with the situation with all the defenders out at the moment, but Blind and McNair did well, but there was a misunderstanding just before half-time and if that had resulted in a goal I would have not have been so happy - so it is always dependable on luck," added Van Gaal.
