Louis van Gaal is convinced Manchester United will bounce back from their 5-3 humbling at the hands of Leicester.

"I cannot say that I am happy, but in the world of football, these matches happen," said Van Gaal, who ended up with 10 men on his side following Tyler Blackett's red card.

"In my first year as trainer-coach of Barcelona we were 3-0 ahead (against Valencia) with a quarter of the match to play and we lost 3-4.

"It can happen.

"We had the game in our pocket, but we gave it away. That I don't like, but I am convinced we shall improve."

Former captain Gary Neville criticised his former side, branding them as "soft-centred", and Wayne Rooney hit out at his team's defending too.

"Overall, it wasn't good enough as a team," the United captain told MUTV.

"We played some good stuff at times and scored some great goals, but we made too many mistakes as a team and have to do better."

Van Gaal, meanwhile, lashed out at his players for failing to kill the game off.

"We made such big errors," said the 63-year-old, who handed Radamel Falcao his debut at the King Power Stadium.

"We did not keep possession."

Van Gaal, who is already missing the injured Phil Jones, could now be without Jonny Evans for a while after he hobbled off following a challenge from Ulloa.

"I don't know how bad it is," Van Gaal said.

"We will see (on Monday), he will probably have a scan."

Roma have joined Manchester United in the race to sign 15-year-old starlet Martin Odegaard, according to reports in Italy.

The midfielder is one of the most sought-after youngsters in world football, having already made his international debut for Norway.

Odegaard has also netted three goals in 18 games for his club side Stromsgodset, increasing speculation that he is set for a move to one of Europe's elite clubs.

Ajax, Juventus and Real Madrid are all understood to have expressed an interest in Odegaard, with Manchester United reportedly at the front of the queue.

However, according to Sport Mediaset, Roma are now ready to rival United in their pursuit of the talented midfielder.

The Serie A side are hoping to persuade Odegaard that a move to the Italian capital would see him gain more first-team opportunities.

Rojo is useless at LB. Did stupid things. Rooney practically had to play as a CDM in the last 30min because he knew the defense was gonna screw up, but he and Blind couln't help our shocking defence. Rojo has to be a CB. RvP contributed only one thing in my eyes, a goal.

Personally I think starting RVP and Falcao is a mistake. The RVP favoritism needs to go. That game should have had Mata in (especially after how he played against QPR) with Falcao - and it's time to try RVP on as a sub. Taking off Di Maria for Mata made no sense. Mata has a good head and could have controlled that game, but we should have removed a striker at 3-1 (RVP) for Mata and would have dictated play much better. Instead, it was an odd choice removing our biggest midfield attacking threat who scored an insane chip out of nothing.

Also, I don't think Rooney's a good player anymore.. He has the ability of a world class player but he's lost.. He's all over the place.. He doesn't do whatever job he should be doing.. Instead he's all over the pitch chasing the ball..

injury crisis eh? only rojo left as a natural cb (senior), and he havent play as a cb for us. he's not tall and west ham known for a long ball, crosses and aerial bombardment. its a huge test.

but on positive side, it'll open a door for a young defender..

^ rafael at RCB?? NNNNOOOOOO!!!!!!! absolute NO!!!!

rafael will get slaughtered if play at centre back against a very physical WHU, regardless of his experience. it's the physical part that he's losing out. imagine gary nev at centre back. 'twas a disaster previously.

GNev did badly. His height counted against him. I shudder whenever GNev had to play RCB

Smalling and joes also use to have their moments in the sun...even cleverly...now what happened?

Why most fans in this thread their temper like cap'ain rooney...joke2 a bit oso all hell breaks lose...chill guys #peace

Read more at http://talksport.com/football/inter-milan-...LQHLLavWaTcE.99

boss Walter Mazzarri admitted he should have rested former Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic as the Old Trafford legend's woeful start to life in Italy continued.

The Serbian moved to San Siro in the summer after eight years with United, but his move has not panned out as hoped so far.

The centre-back was sent-off on his Inter debut, made an awful error that directly led to a goal in his second game and gave away a penalty in his third match, Sunday's 4-1 home defeat to Cagliari.

The penalty was saved by Samir Handanovic but it was little consolation on an awful afternoon for Vidic and Inter.

And Mazzarri admits the 32-year-old should have been rested.

"He is probably one of those I used too much," said the former Napoli boss.

"He's strong and a leader, so I didn't want to rest him, but he was fatigued and therefore below par. I take responsibility for that, as I should've made more changes and realised there are players who at this moment cannot play three or four times in a row."

Patrice Evra has revealed how former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson asked him to persuade midfielder Paul Pogba to stay at Old Trafford.

Pogba has gone on to become one of Europe's hottest properties since leaving the Red Devils for Juventus on a Bosman in 2012.

Evra, a United player for eight years, claims that the 21-year-old is like a son to him but says that even he failed to convince his compatriot to remain in England.

"La Pioche [Pogba] is like a son to me," the Frenchman, who himself has since joined the Italian giants, told La Repubblica.

"Ferguson sent me to his house to convince him to stay. He cried, he couldn't sleep. He knew he could become greater than [Patrick] Vieira, but he had decided.

"Ferguson also knew Pogba could become very strong, but he couldn't force the issue."

Pogba has helped the Italian giants win back-to-back Serie A titles since his arrival.

Juventus defender Patrice Evra has insisted that he harbours no animosity toward Luis Suarez following an infamous race row almost three years ago.

The former Liverpool striker was handed an eight-match ban after being found guilty of racially abusing Evra - then at Manchester United - at Anfield in October 2011.

"Suarez called me negro seven times. I've had bananas thrown, I've had shouts from behind me, but I've never taken it on board: it's the ignorance of those who are afraid of something different, I understand that," he told La Repubblica.

"Suarez, however, was an opponent and I was going to react to him. I asked myself: what should I do? Give him a punch that would be seen around the world, that will earn a two-year ban, that all the kids will see?

"I forgave him. I also voted him as the best player in the Premier League. A player doesn't hold a grudge, and the man does not concern me, whether he is racist or not."

Suarez - now with Barcelona - is serving a four-month ban from competitive football after biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini in the World Cup back in June.

Andreas Pereira has revealed that Man United have yet to offer him a new deal at Old Trafford. The highly-rated 18-year-old midfielder did reveal that new Dutch manager Louis van Gaal does want to give him a chance in the first-team.

Van Gaal during his short time at the club has given chances to youngsters such as Luke Shaw, Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair, but according to Pereira, Van Gaal wants to give more chances to the Red Devil youngsters.

Pereira is one of the hottest prospects in the Old Trafford youth ranks, the midfielder made his Man United debut in the 4-0 loss to MK Dons in the Capital One Cup second round.

However, there have been some concerns over the Pereira’s future, especially with the player’s deal expiring soon.

Pereira told Lancenet: “They haven’t contacted me yet, but Van Gaal told me to stay calm.

“He wants to give me a chance because I have plenty of talent. When he arrived at the club, I talked with him. He always does so.

Man United will want to secure the 18-year-old as they look to avoid another potential Paul Pogba situation. With the Frenchman, now at Juventus, the midfielder left for a nominal fee and became a huge success in Serie A.

Wonderkid Martin Odegaard has been called up by Norway for their Euro 2016 qualifiers against Malta and Bulgaria.

The old adage ‘if you’re good enough then you’re old enough’ applies to the 15-year-old Stromsgodset playmaker who has taken the Tippeligaen by storm this year.

Odegaard is already Norway’s youngest ever player after making his debut in a friendly against the United Arab Emirates in August at the age of 15 years and 253 days.

Courted by a host of top European clubs including Barcelona and Manchester United, Odegaard was praised by Norway coach Per-Mathias Hogmo: “Martin has performed at a high level for a longer period. He has shown quality in the Tippeligaen and he created chances on his debut.”

Norway desperately need an injection of attacking invention in their side after a limp defeat to Italy in their opening qualifier.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has admitted former Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane still scares the life out of him.
Ex-captain Keane left Old Trafford in 2005 after more than 300 league appearances for the Red Devils, his final outing for the club coming just a month before Pique's Premier League bow for the 20-time champions of England.
The Spanish stopper only made another 11 league outings for United before returning home to Barcelona in 2008 and winning every major honour there is for club and country including two Champions League crowns and the World Cup.“
However, the 27-year-old says the sight of Keane still sends shivers down his spine, telling FourFourTwo exclusively that the Irishman – now assistant manager at Aston Villa – was scarier than Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous ‘hairdryer treatment’.
“I wouldn't say I was scared of [Ferguson]. Roy Keane? Well, maybe that's different!” Pique said while answering readers’ One-on-One questions in the November 2014 issue, available in shops and on iPad now.
“I remember we were in the changing room at Old Trafford and my phone started vibrating. Keano could hear the vibrations and went crazy trying to find out who the phone belonged to. That’s who he was.
“Before we [Barca] beat Celtic 1-0 last season, I noticed him by the side of the pitch as a pundit as we went to warm up. I hid my face with my hand because he still scares me. I was 26 years old, and I was sh*tting myself!”

dont forget pereira.. probably got higher chance ahead of ando and afro

i think its either fletcher or him for this weekend game

Marouane Fellaini has made a return to full training and is expected to be available for Manchester United soon, according to the Daily Mail.

The Belgian midfielder has been out of action since injuring his ankle in training after the Swansea game and with Louis van Gaal’s midfield so short in numbers, his return will give him another option.

Despite his setbacks with injury, Fellaini remains confident in his ability to prove himself worthy of playing for United: “I have known difficult moments like last season, but you become a stronger player afterwards,’ said the Belgian. ‘I have confidence in myself and in my game again.”

However, the best news surrounds Ander Herrera as the Spaniard is hoping to be back in action after the international break in two weeks, rather than the three weeks reported yesterday.

If Herrera was able to return within two weeks he would be fit enough and available for selection for United’s biggest game of the season so far against Chelsea at Old Trafford on 26 August, which would be a massive boost.

United are likely to really miss Herrera’s energy and dynamism in midfield against Everton and West Brom, let alone a Chelsea midfield which boasts Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic.

At this stage there is no guarantee Herrera will be fit in time for Chelsea and with United’s squad looking so thin at the moment, Van Gaal may choose to look to the youth in the same fashion he did with Paddy McNair last week.