AUGUST 26 (Reuters) — Manchester United coach Louis van Gaal said on Tuesday (August 25) Bruges are capable opponents as they prepare to take on the Belgian team in the second leg of their Champions League play-off.
United are going in to the match with a 3-1 lead after the first leg at Old Trafford on August 18, but van Gaal was not sitting comfortably ahead of Wednesday’s (August 26) match.
“It’s a preliminary round so it’s very important and you have to play the game, and at the end you have to have scored more than one goal as the opponent and they have won also from our Greek opponent (Panathinaikos) with 3-0. So they are capable to do that and with the support of the fans. And we have seen the fans in Manchester so I think they shall support them a lot,” van Gaal told a news conference in Bruges.
Belgium player Marouane Fellaini netted the third goal for United in the first leg.
Van Gaal announced Fellaini would be playing more as a striker than as a midfielder throughout the season.
“He can play in a nine position and a ten, but he can also play six and eight. But this year he shall play more at ten and nine than at six and eight because there we have other players,” he said.
The 27-year-old had a difficult first season after he joined United in a 27 million-pound deal from Everton in 2013.
“Everyone knows my first season was difficult. But now is the past, so now I look forward. Okay, last year I did quite well, and I want to continue like that. I know my teammates, I know the philosophy of the manager, I know the manager, so for me I just looking forward to do well and score some goals,” Fellaini said.
Bruges reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League and finished second in the Belgian League last season, while United have been European Cup champions three times, but were not involved last season, having failed to qualify when they finished seventh in the Premier League in 2013-14.