FA CUP RED CARD: NO EXCUSES FOR DI MARIA - LOUIS VAN GAAL
Manchester United 1 Arsenal 2, FA Cup: Louis van Gaal says Angel di Maria has ‘no excuses’ for red card
Angel di Maria looks on as referee Michael Oliver sends him off (GETTY IMAGES)
Argentine winger is sent off for grabbing referee Michael Oliver's shirt as his miserable run of form continues
Louis van Gaal admitted Angel di Maria had ‘no excuses’ for being sent off for grabbing hold of referee Michael Oliver as Arsenal ended Manchester United’sFA Cup hopes at Old Trafford.Di Maria, the £59.7m British record signing from Real Madrid last August, extended his miserable period at the club by being sent off in the 77th minute of this quarter-final tie, which was won by a second-half goal by Danny Welbeck – the forward sold by Van Gaal earlier this season because of doubts over his goalscoring record.
With the Argentine winger having been unsettled by a burglary at his Cheshire mansion at the end of January, his recent form slump will now be compounded by a one-match suspension, ruling him out of Sunday’s encounter with Tottenham, as a result of his dismissal for a second yellow card, moments after being booked for diving by Oliver.
But although Di Maria was applauded off the pitch by the United supporters, Van Gaal refused to defend the player.
- Angel di Maria must escape his demons to thrive at Manchester United - by Gary Neville
“I think he has touched the referee and that's forbidden in every country, so he has no excuses,” Van Gaal said.
“He knows that he doesn’t have to touch the referee and every player knows that.
“That is not so smart of him, but emotion is not so easy in such a match. I have said to Di Maria that the referee is the boss on the pitch and you have to adapt to that, not the other way around.
"In Spain, he knows that he doesn't touch the referee, but that is also in his emotion. I've already spoken with him, he knows my opinion, but also I have to see on the video."
Di Maria loses his patience and grabs hold of referee Oliver at Old Trafford (BBC One)
Although substitute Adnan Januzaj was also booked for diving shortly after Di Maria’s dismissal, Van Gaal rejected suggestions that ill-discipline proved his team’s downfall
“No, I don’t think so,” Van Gaal said. “You have to see every decision of the referee in the circumstance.
“It is very disappointing (to lose), when you don’t lose because of your opponent, but because of yourself. That is very disappointing.
“The players are also very disappointed because you know that it could be different.
“A match shall be decided by goals and this match has been decided by goals, but when you see the second goal, we gave it away.”
Louis van Gaal admitted Angel di Maria had ‘no excuses’ for being sent off for grabbing hold of referee Michael Oliver as Arsenal ended Manchester United’sFA Cup hopes at Old Trafford.Di Maria, the £59.7m British record signing from Real Madrid last August, extended his miserable period at the club by being sent off in the 77th minute of this quarter-final tie, which was won by a second-half goal by Danny Welbeck – the forward sold by Van Gaal earlier this season because of doubts over his goalscoring record.
With the Argentine winger having been unsettled by a burglary at his Cheshire mansion at the end of January, his recent form slump will now be compounded by a one-match suspension, ruling him out of Sunday’s encounter with Tottenham, as a result of his dismissal for a second yellow card, moments after being booked for diving by Oliver.
But although Di Maria was applauded off the pitch by the United supporters, Van Gaal refused to defend the player.
- Angel di Maria must escape his demons to thrive at Manchester United - by Gary Neville
“I think he has touched the referee and that's forbidden in every country, so he has no excuses,” Van Gaal said.
“He knows that he doesn’t have to touch the referee and every player knows that.
“That is not so smart of him, but emotion is not so easy in such a match. I have said to Di Maria that the referee is the boss on the pitch and you have to adapt to that, not the other way around.
"In Spain, he knows that he doesn't touch the referee, but that is also in his emotion. I've already spoken with him, he knows my opinion, but also I have to see on the video."
Di Maria loses his patience and grabs hold of referee Oliver at Old Trafford (BBC One)
Although substitute Adnan Januzaj was also booked for diving shortly after Di Maria’s dismissal, Van Gaal rejected suggestions that ill-discipline proved his team’s downfall
“No, I don’t think so,” Van Gaal said. “You have to see every decision of the referee in the circumstance.
“It is very disappointing (to lose), when you don’t lose because of your opponent, but because of yourself. That is very disappointing.
“The players are also very disappointed because you know that it could be different.
“A match shall be decided by goals and this match has been decided by goals, but when you see the second goal, we gave it away.”
Louis van Gaal was hugely disappointed to lose in the FA Cup against Arsenal (REUTERS)
Despite Welbeck scoring the goal which ended his former club’s cup ambitions, Van Gaal insisted he had no regrets over selling the 24-year-old and replacing him with loan signing Radamel Falcao – an unused substitute for this game who has scored just four times for United.
“In football, it happens,” Van Gaal said. “It was a surprise that Wenger put him in the line-up in that position, but have done that a lot of times against a team who played against because the player will be very motivated.
“But no (I don’t regret Welbeck’s sale.) Falcao has scored four goals and provided three or four assists.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted, however, that Welbeck’s desire to prove a point to United helped make his decision to select the forward ahead of Olivier Giroud.
“Welbeck has pace, but you also have a psychological consideration too,” Wenger said. “Overall, he had a great game.
“We all want to do well against our former clubs, show we are a great player, but he focused on his game and showed great mental strength.
Despite Welbeck scoring the goal which ended his former club’s cup ambitions, Van Gaal insisted he had no regrets over selling the 24-year-old and replacing him with loan signing Radamel Falcao – an unused substitute for this game who has scored just four times for United.
“In football, it happens,” Van Gaal said. “It was a surprise that Wenger put him in the line-up in that position, but have done that a lot of times against a team who played against because the player will be very motivated.
“But no (I don’t regret Welbeck’s sale.) Falcao has scored four goals and provided three or four assists.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted, however, that Welbeck’s desire to prove a point to United helped make his decision to select the forward ahead of Olivier Giroud.
“Welbeck has pace, but you also have a psychological consideration too,” Wenger said. “Overall, he had a great game.
“We all want to do well against our former clubs, show we are a great player, but he focused on his game and showed great mental strength.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed his matchwinner Danny Welbeck (Rex Features)
“He is a team player, wants to do well for the team and he has shown today that when you can produce such a great defensive and attacking performance as he has done, he has a great future.
“He did well with the goal, kept calm and I must also say that (David) De Gea made some outstanding saves for United.”
Arsenal, who won the FA Cup last season, now face a Wembley semi-final against Reading or Bradford City on April 18/19, but Wenger claims the objective is now to secure Champions League qualification.
“It is important now that we focus on the Premier League,” Wenger said. “We have a big game against West Ham on Saturday and the semi-final is a long way away now.
“Every win makes you stronger. Our win at Manchester City helped us, showed we can win big games. At this level, it is more mental and we showed great belief.”
Conversely, Van Gaal admitted that United must now overcome the disappointment of losing this tie to ensure they claim a top four finish in the Premier League.
“A negative result like this is a big blow for us and we have to recover,” Van Gaal said. “But we are sportsmen and we have to recover.”
“He is a team player, wants to do well for the team and he has shown today that when you can produce such a great defensive and attacking performance as he has done, he has a great future.
“He did well with the goal, kept calm and I must also say that (David) De Gea made some outstanding saves for United.”
Arsenal, who won the FA Cup last season, now face a Wembley semi-final against Reading or Bradford City on April 18/19, but Wenger claims the objective is now to secure Champions League qualification.
“It is important now that we focus on the Premier League,” Wenger said. “We have a big game against West Ham on Saturday and the semi-final is a long way away now.
“Every win makes you stronger. Our win at Manchester City helped us, showed we can win big games. At this level, it is more mental and we showed great belief.”
Conversely, Van Gaal admitted that United must now overcome the disappointment of losing this tie to ensure they claim a top four finish in the Premier League.
“A negative result like this is a big blow for us and we have to recover,” Van Gaal said. “But we are sportsmen and we have to recover.”
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