van Gaal says the whole world wants his Manchester United to be beaten

Manchester United manager Luis Van Gaal. PHOTO / REUTERS

LONDON:  Man United must replay their fourth round tie at Old Trafford after being held to an embarrassing 0-0 draw by the League Two side 11 days ago.

Manager Van Gaal knows all the pressure is on his Red Devils and admitted there is a desire to see them fall flat and follow Chelsea and Manchester City in going out in a major upset at this last-32 stage.

“What I have already said is that everything is against you at Manchester United and everything is in favour of the underdog,” said Van Gaal ahead of Tuesday’s tie.

“People shall not do it consciously but sub-consciously. So that’s our warning for Tuesday.

“But in spite of all the criticism we’ve had, we’re still in the FA Cup and a lot of teams are not.

“So I’m still happy that we can play this match, but we have to win because they are coming with two rows of four and a goalkeeper and dropping in a striker.

“We have to score the first goal, because that’s the most important goal, so it’s not such an easy game.”

The shock exits of Premier League top two Chelsea and Man City to League One Bradford and Championship side Middlesbrough respectively have opened up the FA Cup, with United now the highest-placed side left in the competition.

Despite that, Van Gaal does not feel United are favourites to lift the famous trophy - they visit a League One side, either Preston or Sheffield United, if they beat Cambridge - and pointed to the club’s 11-year wait to win it as proof the best team does not always go all the way.

“Have you seen who has been winning the FA Cup?” said the Dutchman. “Manchester United haven’t won it for 11 years, so the best team doesn’t always win it.”

Van Gaal said United’s players will be fired up on Tuesday night, with skipper Wayne Rooney having urged his side to take revenge on Leicester at the weekend, following their 5-3 defeat to them earlier in the season.

“Everyone wants revenge,” he said. “Rooney said before the start of the Leicester match, ‘Do you remember how we lost that?’

“It’s good and it’s also that same feeling with Cambridge, but I don’t think it’s a great motivation. The motivation is the FA Cup and when there’s a lot of high potential winners out, then your chance of winning is bigger.”