Van Gaal: Playing a 4-4-2 makes my ass twitch

Goal.com

The former Netherlands boss believes that the Red Devils are more secure in his much-criticised 3-5-2 setup, while he could deploy club-record signing Angel Di Maria up front again

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has hit back at critics of his 3-5-2 formation and says that his side lack balance when they play with a back four, causing the Dutchman's "ass to twitch".

Despite having only lost once in their last 13 matches in all competitions, the Red Devils have been criticised for a series of laboured performances, struggling to overcome QPR and minnows Yeovil Town, with fans calling for a change of system – a plea which the manager dismissed.

Despite more emphatic results playing with 4-4-2, Van Gaal remains convinced that the formation is too exposed and insists he will continue to field a back three.

"I know that, with 4-4-2, the stats are giving positive results, we have won more with 4-4-2 in a diamond, but, when you analyse the games, then we have twitched our ass on the bench," he told reporters ahead of Friday's trip to face Cambridge United in the FA Cup fourth round.

"I said to my players I was squeezing my ass but I knew that was the wrong expression. I meant I have twitched my ass on the bench because we were out of balance. We won against West Ham playing 4-4-2 for instance but all the time it was twitching your ass and I don't like it.

"After I switched the system we won nine in a row [sic] then we lose one game and the discussion about the system starts up again. It's ridiculous."

Van Gaal is convinced that results, and performances, will pick up again as his side become more accustomed to the 3-5-2 formation, while he also expanded on his decision to pick Angel Di Maria up front at Loftus Road.

"I do not feel the players are completely comfortable with the new system yet," he continued.

"I would like them to be more comfortable but we are working on this in the middle of the season so we are doing a lot of things during the matches."

On Di Maria, he added: "It was something I wanted to try because we needed pace up front to stretch the game. When we play 4-4-2 Di Maria can play left midfield; in the 3-5-2 we haven't seen him so much because he has been injured.

"Then he came back and I tried him as a striker because, when you have pace in that position, you stretch the pitch and make a bigger space for your midfielders. I tried it in a game because I didn't have the chance to do it in the preparation at the beginning of the season."