Manchester United

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick defends Louis van Gaal's tactics

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 05 November 2015

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick defends manager Louis van Gaal by claiming that the priority not tactics but to win games.

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has hit back at Louis van Gaal's critics by claiming that winning is more important than tactics.

The Red Devils, who are currently fourth in the Premier League table, have scored just one goal in their last four games in all competitions.

During Tuesday's victory over CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, the fans were heard chanting "attack, attack, attack" before Wayne Rooney struck in the 79th minute at Old Trafford.

"It's about winning, isn't it? Winning games and trophies," Carrick told reporters. "Of course we want to play exciting football and score loads of goals, but it's not always easy when teams are coming and putting 10 men behind the ball. It's difficult.

"I think there's an awful lot made of tactics these days. People like to talk about that a lot more now than they did in the past. Different managers have different systems and the way they set the teams up. That's just the nature of the game.

"I don't think it's more conservative [under Van Gaal]. I just think it's slightly different, in some ways, but not all ways. Yes, there are things as a team that we do differently to how we did them in the past but to me, that's just obvious when you have a new manager and he has different beliefs. There's a lot made of tactics and things at the minute, but as players we can't get too involved in that. We just do what the manager tells us."

Jesse Lingard, who made the assist for Rooney's goal, has revealed that Van Gaal told the players not to listen to the fans during their match against CSKA.