Louis van Gaal concerned with strikers' lack of efficiency in front of goal

Louis Van Gaal’s men have failed to score at Old Trafford for the past two matches.

Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal has admitted to concerns about his team’s goal-scoring problems after they crashed out of Captial One Cup on penalties against Championship side Middlesbrough, Manchester Evening News reported. Van Gaal drew attention to his misfiring strikers and their inability to convert chances against a second-tier outfit.

Despite all the pre-match hype, the Manchester Derby turned out to be a huge disappointment for the neutrals as it ended with both teams failing to score at the end of the final whistle. United followed it up with yet another goalless draw against Boro this week, before succumbing 3-1 on penalties, with captain Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Ashley Young all missing the target during the shootout.

However, all the credit goes to Aitor Karanka’s side, who were well-organised at the back and did well to contain the pressure from Van Gaal’s attacking force. With this defeat, United are now without a goal in 247 minutes in front of the Old Trafford faithful. The last time they scored in front of their fans was in their 2-1 victory against Wolfsburg through Chris Smalling.

Goals are counted, not chances: Van Gaal

The lack of efficiency in front of goal is becoming a big concern for both the fans and the club manager. Neither Rooney nor Memphis Depay have been able to take responsibility of the club’s goal scoring burden this season.

“In football what only matters is a goal,” the Dutchman said in an interview.

“We have played two matches 0-0 and in my opinion we could've scored against Manchester City and now again and don't score.”

“It is a concern, but I do know also it can easily turn around in the next game.”

Van Gaal is frustrated by the way his forwards failed to bury their chances on goal, with Anthony Martial and Marouane Fellaini both failing to find a winner when presented with glorious opportunities in extra time.

“I'm disappointed by the fact that we're out and that we are so close and still out,” he added.

“I think the first half was the half that we didn't play so well, but everybody is forgetting that they are playing in a very compact way like Manchester City did.”

“It's very difficult to create chances. We needed more time to disorganise them. We did that.”

“In the second half we created much more chances, but you have to finish chances. In extra time, there were better chances than the second half.”

“When you are not finishing the chances - there were very easy chances in front of goal, in front of the goalkeeper - it is very difficult to win a game. Goals are counting not chances.”

“We were unlucky. I said after City also that was also 0-0. You have to force luck also and we didnt do that - we didn't score.”