LOUIS Van Gaal was pleased that Manchester United secured a two-goal cushion ahead of next week’s away Champions League play-off clash with Club Brugge.
Substitute Marouane Fellaini struck deep into stoppage time to give the Red Devils a two-goal advantage over Club Brugge.
United had to come from behind after Michael Carrick sliced the ball into his own net with a double from summer signing Memphis giving them a 2-1 lead before Fellaini’s late intervention.
And the United boss felt it was no more than United deserved after creating a host of chances.
“It makes a difference I think, because 2-1 is a very difficult result. We deserve much more because we created a lot of chances,” said Van Gaal.
“There was a lot of criticism that we never shoot at goal and not create chances but you’ve seen that now we create a lot of chances but no goals.”
Van Gaal also reserved praise for compatriot Memphis, who scored his first goals since his mega-money move from PSV Eindhoven in the summer.
“I am very happy for him because a player needs that. I said it’d be a matter of time and it was a matter of time,” the former Netherlands boss added.
“Hopefully he shall continue but it’s difficult for him – he’s 21 and has only played two seasons for PSV but I have confidence in him.”
Fellaini was pleased to give United breathing space but insists United have plenty still to do to ensure they reach the group stages of the Champions League.
“It was important to score the third goal and we did so it’s a fantastic win today,” he said.
“So now we have to be careful in Brugge and normally it would not be easy but we have the quality to win there as well.”
The return of the Champions League anthem after a 16-month absence raised spirits inside Old Trafford, but the home fans were soon stunned into silence thanks to Carrick’s own goal after just eight minutes.
The midfielder, who had put a simple pass out of play in the opening minute, fell to the floor attempting to clear Fernando Vazquez’s free-kick, but instead guided the ball past a diving Sergio Romero.
Five minutes later, Carrick was back in the good books. The midfielder lifted a ball into the box to find Memphis, who juggled the ball away from his marker before unleashing a low drive past Sebastien Bruzzese.
The forward barely celebrated. He knew there was much more work to do.
Wayne Rooney led the hunt for a second. The England captain had a shot cleared off the line by Vazquez and then glanced a header just wide.
It was not all United. They left open holes at the back, which Brugge exploited on the break.
The Belgians could not find a way past Romero, though, and United made it 2-1 just before the break.
Memphis cut inside the left flank on to his right foot and whipped a wicked shot past Bruzzese before performing a jig in the corner.
Van Gaal brought Bastian Schweinsteiger on for Carrick at half-time.
Memphis started where he left off after the break, curling a low shot towards goal, but this time Bruzzese saved.
The 21-year-old should have had his hat-trick just after the hour when Rooney’s backheel fell straight into his path but he put the ball into the Stretford End.
Brugge still looked threatening on the counter. Romero dallied on the ball after a poor backpass from Matteo Darmian, but the referee stopped play because Mamadou Oulare had stood on the goalkeeper’s ankle as he attempted to capitalise.
The Belgians had Brandon Mechele sent off with 10 minutes to go, as he picked up a second yellow card when he slid in on substitute Javier Hernandez to receive his second booking.
Van Gaal brought Marouane Fellaini on for Rooney with six minutes to go and the move paid off as the big Belgian powered in Memphis’s cross to make it 3-1.
