Van Gaal says winning the FA Cup is more important than his future at the club

Record ID: 102631

  • Title: Van Gaal says winning the FA Cup is more important than his future at the club
  • Date: 20th May 2016
  • Summary: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 19, 2016) (REUTERS) MANAGER LOUIS VAN GAAL WALKING TO TRAINING WIDE VIEW OF MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYERS TRAINING MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER LOUIS VAN GAAL AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER LOUIS VAN GAAL SAYS: "I think the interest of the club is much more important, and also the interests of the fans is much more important than the manager. Of course you have set or put your own aims, and that's one of the aims that I have had always. It is always exciting when you are so close but close is not enough, you have to win it." PLAYERS CAMERON BORTHWICK-JACKSON, MARCUS RASHFORD AND VALENCIA TRAINING ANTHONY MARTIAL, DALEY BLIND (BEARD), DAVID DE GEA (BLUE) TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER LOUIS VAN GAAL SAYS: "But still we have to beat Crystal Palace, and that's not so easy. I think you have a lot of quality, I think they will defend on a very small space. And then with counters they have a lot of speed in the attack so it will be very difficult. It is not easy." MARCUS RASHFORD TAKING PART IN TRAINING GAME WITH JESSE LINGARD, CHRIS SMALLING, AND JUAN MATA TRAINING WITH ASSISTANT MANAGER RYAN GIGGS IN BACKGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER LOUIS VAN GAAL SAYS: "I think it is always important. When you win silverware it is always important. For the players because a qualification is not a title. A title is FA Cup, is championship, and for players it is very important because they can look and they can hold the cup and that is an exciting moment also. And especially here in England because the FA Cup is a big title so we are playing in the most prestigious temple of England so everything confirms how important this cup is." MARCOS ROJO STANDING WITH WAYNE ROONEY RUNNING AND MAROUANE FELLAINI WALKING IN DURING TRAINING MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER LOUIS VAN GAAL SITTING IN NEWS CONFERENCE WAITING FOR QUESTION
  • Embargoed: 4th June 2016 11:04
  • Keywords: Manchester United Crystal Palace Louis van Gaal
  • Location: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Soccer,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014IM3IV3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A Manchester United FA Cup triumph at the "temple" of English soccer would bring a big title and silverware to the club, manager Louis van Gaal said on Thursday (May 19).
    Eleven times FA Cup winners United face Crystal Palace in the final at Wembley stadium on Saturday (May 21) looking to end their three-year trophy drought.
    Despite increasing speculation about the future of the Dutchman at the club, Van Gaal said a victory in the final is far more important for the Premier League club than himself.
    "I think the interest of the club is much more important, and also the interests of the fans is much more important than the manager. Of course you have set or put your own aims, and that's one of the aims that I have had always. It is always exciting when you are so close but close is not enough, you have to win it."
    Van Gaal listened to questions about how important winning a title would be for his squad, but pointed out that they had to win the final first.
    "But still we have to beat Crystal Palace, and that's not so easy. I think you have a lot of quality, I think they will defend on a very small space. And then with counters they have a lot of speed in the attack so it will be very difficult. It is not easy," the 64-year-old said.
    Van Gaal said winning a trophy would energise fans and players alike.
    "When you win silverware it is always important. For the players because a qualification is not a title. A title is FA Cup, is championship, and for players it is very important because they can look and they can hold the cup and that is an exciting moment also," the Dutchman said. "Especially here in England because the FA Cup is a big title so we are playing in the most prestigious temple of England so everything confirms how important this cup is.
    "We are playing in the most prestigious temple of England. It confirms how important it is."
    Van Gaal also confirmed that Matteo Darmian and Marcos Rojo have recovered from injury.
    United play Palace in a repeat of the 1990 final won by Alex Ferguson's men in a replay. That success eased the pressure on the Scot who went on to build a dynasty that won 13 league titles and two Champions Leagues and a host of domestic cups.
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