Louis van Gaal
hit out at Angel Di Maria after the Argentinian was sent off for grabbing
referee Michael Oliver's shirt in Manchester United's FA Cup quarter-final
defeat to Arsenal.
The
Gunners set up a semi-final meeting against either Reading
or Bradford thanks to a 2-1 win over 10-man United at Old Trafford.
Former United
striker Danny Welbeck returned to haunt Van Gaal by scoring the
winner after Wayne Rooney had equalised Nacho Monreal's opener.
The main talking
point from the match was the latest episode in what has been a largely
disappointing start to Di Maria's career at Old Trafford.
After being cautioned
for simulation, the former Real
Madrid midfielder remonstrated with referee Oliver and then grabbed the
back of his shirt and yelled at the official when he had turned his back on him.
Replays
showed the first booking on Di Maria was harsh and Aaron Ramsey had pulled the
player back, but the £59.7 million man's actions thereafter deserved sanction,
according to Van Gaal. "I think he's touched the referee and that's forbidden in every country, so he has no excuses," the United manager said. "In Spain he knows that he doesn't touch the referee, but that is also in his emotion.
"I've
already spoken with him, he knows my opinion but also I have to see on the
video."
Di Maria
actually started the game reasonably well, setting Rooney up for his goal with
a wonderful curling cross.
But his
dismissal clearly angered his manager and the player himself, who refused
requests for an interview post-match.
Van
Gaal tried extremely hard to look for positives in a tense post-match press
conference.
The United boss,
who has come in for criticism despite losing only three of his last 23 matches,
said Valencia was United's best player before he handed Arsenal
a gift-wrapped ticket to Wembley when he sold David de Gea short with a comical
backpass, and added that the team had shown "fantastic fighting
spirit".
He also bristled
at claims he made a big error by selling Welbeck, who has scored eight goals
for Arsenal since his £16million move to north London.
The Dutchman
claimed last summer that he would be better off without the boyhood United fan
because he had not scored enough goals for the club.
But the academy
product, who grew up in Longsight, just four miles from Old Trafford, made the 63-year-old
eat his words as he capitalised on the terrible mistake by Valencia to tap in
the winner.
When asked
whether he stood by his decision to ditch Welbeck and stick with Rooney, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao,
the reply was emphatic.
"Yes,"
Van Gaal said bluntly.
"A lot of
times against the club who a player was playing for (he) shall be very motivated
but I think we gave that goal (away)."
When
it was put to him that Falcao, who did not make it off the bench, had flopped
this season, Van Gaal fired another retort back.
"He has
scored four goals and (has made) three or four assists," he said.
"And he
stimulates also the other players so that is an aspect of a profession but it
is now easy for you to say that.
"You are
very happy to say that. I see that in your face."
Van Gaal's
opposite number Arsene Wenger was happy to see Welbeck score the winner that
secured Arsenal's first victory at Old Trafford in nine years.
The Frenchman
said he expected Welbeck to be fired up for the game, given that he was facing
his old employers.
"We want
all to do well when we play against our former club to show we are great
players," the Arsenal manager said.
"It is not
easy to deal with the mental aspect of it. He focused just on his game and
played football the way he wanted to. He has showed mental strength.
"He is
intelligent. He is a great talent and has done extremely well for the national
team as well."
Wenger
was delighted to move one step closer to retaining the FA Cup, but cautioned
against expecting an easy win in the next round.
"Last year
we played a tricky game at Wembley in the semi-final and you expect that
again," said Wenger, whose team progressed to the final last year after a
penalty shootout triumph over Wigan.
''I feel we
played a good game from the start and we deserved to win the game.''
Wenger hopes the
win at Old Trafford will boost his team's chances of qualifying for the
Champions League.
"Every win
makes you confident," he said.
"We have
won at Manchester City and that helped us to win here. When you
have won big games, it is more mental. The belief is important."
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