Bastian Schweinsteiger’s Ban Very Strange – LVG

Louis van Gaal has said he has no doubts about his ability to manage Manchester United despite their Champions League exit and has to meet “very high” expectations at Old Trafford.

United dropped into the Europa League after a 3-2 loss to Wolfsburg on Tuesday meant they finished third in Group B behind the Bundesliga club and PSV Eindhoven.

But while that brought negative reactions of Van Gaal, whose team are fourth in the Premier League, he is adamant that he should stay in charge.

“No, I don’t have any doubts,” he said. “You can lose and you can win in sport — you have to accept that. As a manager, you have to work very hard, and I am working very hard, as are my players.

“So the problem is that we have to meet the expectations — and the expectations at a club like United are very high.”

Van Gaal criticised the FA for banning Bastian Schweinsteiger, calling their decision to give him a three-match suspension “strange.”

The midfielder has been ruled out of United’s Premier League games against Bournemouth, Norwich and Stoke after he was charged on Monday for elbowing West Ham defender Winston Reid in last week’s 0-0 draw at old Trafford.

Referee Mark Clattenburg spoke to both players at the time and took no further action, but a panel of three former referees reviewed the footage and decided it was a red card offence.

“It’s also a little bit strange again afterwards,” Van Gaal added. “But the referee was whistling and talking with the two players. It’s strange again, but we don’t have any luck, I think.”