Louis Van Gaal thinks Manchester United cannot win the Champions League this season

LVG looks on as United manage only a single point against West Ham

Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal has clearly stated that his team won’t be able to win the Champions League this season. However, the Dutchman qualified his rather despondent statement by opining that the Red Devils might win it next season after adding some reinforcements in the summer transfer window.

Notably, the Dutch manager has already spent in excess of £250m since his arrival at the club two years ago. Van Gall did fulfill the club’s expectations last season when he helped United qualify for the Champions League but the team’s style of play is something which concerns United fans reared on Sir Alex Ferguson’s brand of attacking football.

“I don't think that we are able to win the Champions League now. Maybe next year when we strengthen our selection again,” Van Gaal said.

“But now we have to come as much as possible and maybe we can beat everyone, that I am sure. And we have proven that already, also in the Premier League.

“But normally we are not good enough to win the Champions League. You can win, and when we are there we shall try to do everything but you also have to be realistic.

“I'm happy with my squad now but we can strengthen the selection still in [certain] positions, for example the left-back position is not so [well] covered.”

United travel to the Volkswagen Arena to play against VFL Wolfsburg in their last Champions League group stage match on Tuesday, which will decide if they qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament. Van Gaal’s quotes might not be the most apropriate motivation for his players, but a crunch game against the Bundesliga runners up last season should be motivation enough.

Suarez or Aguero might have scored for us: Van Gaal

The Red Devils have failed to score in two consecutive matches at Old Trafford. This was their third consecutive draw in all competitions and also their fifth goalless draw in the last nine games in all competitions. Clearly, Manchester United have a problem with scoring goals.

In last night’s 0-0 draw against West Ham United, United players mustered a total of 21 shots on goal but only one of them was on target. Van Gaal was pleased that his team created the chances, but concerned at the quality of the finishing. He went on to add that ex-Liverpool striker Luis Suarez or Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero could have scored a goal from the kind of chances United created in the match.

“The question is would Luis Suarez or Sergio Aguero score if they were here?” Van Gaal said.

“That is a question mark and you never know. I think they would, though. We have created enough chances to score, so that was not the problem.”