Manchester United got a 1-1 away draw against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday, October 21, 2015.
Seydou Doumbia grabbed the first goal for the hosts after David De Gea parried a penalty which the visitors conceded after Anthony Martial handled the ball in his team’s penalty area. The teenage striker redeemed himself later in the game as he leveled the scores with a flying header.
Speaking to BT Sportafter the game, Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal labelled Anthony Martial stupid for the handball that led to CSKA’s penalty. The 64-year-old Dutchman was quick to note that he wasn’t angry at the striker despite the incident
“It was a stupid reaction from Anthony but before that maybe it was offside, I don’t know. It was close.
“But the reaction, it’s the first time that he did it and there always has to be a first time, but for us it was unlucky because I think we controlled the game. We don’t play too fast, I think. The ball possession was too slow in the first half, but we improved in the second half and we scored a fantastic goal. We could have won, but ‘could have’’ doesn’t count in football.
“I have given my advice as to how we could win this game because that is more important than getting angry. A reaction like Martial is stupid, but it happens. We are all human beings, so no angry is not the right word. Maybe disappointed because we were playing too slow.
Van Gaal however noted his disappointment over his team’s inability to make the possession they enjoyed count.
“We had a lot of ball possession but you have to create something with that ball possession, and we didn’t create so much. That’s why I changed the shape and the players, and I think the second half was a better half and I think we deserved to draw and maybe also to win.
“We played at a higher tempo (in the second half). We switched the game from one side to the other, and that is also why we got the goal and we created more chances. We also didn’t give many away,” he explained.
He also praised Anthony Martial for his consistency in front of goal since joining the Red Devils on summer transfer deadline day.
“He was playing with a lot of strength for the opponent, and he played always at a certain level. He is very consistent, and for a 19-year-old boy I like that,” he stated.
