Van Gaal on Man Utd bus attack: It’s all part of the job!

May 10, 2016 

The Red Devils are the last team to visit Upton Park before West Ham leave for the Olympic Stadium, and the Dutch coach admits his side were affected by the pre-match drama

Louis van Gaal has slammed the West Ham fans who attacked Manchester United’s bus prior to Tuesday night’s kick-off, though it is not the first time he’s been involved in such an incident.

Emotions were running high ahead of the match, which will be the last played at the Boleyn Ground before the Hammers move to the Olympic Stadium this summer.

Swathes of fans gathered outside the ground and pelted the United team bus as it arrived late, marking the second time the Red Devils have forced a delayed kick-off this season after also showing up late against Tottenham.

“It’s not the first time that I’ve seen that! It is not so nice, but it is part of the job, I have to say,” Van Gaal told Sky Sports shortly before kick-off at Upton Park.

“What do I have to tell? I think the images shall tell everything, because I have seen that the police were also taping.







“It’s also a lot of emotion for the people. But it is for us the second time in London that we have to start later. Now we have more cooperation than the first match we were here, because we have received the preparation time that we usually have. So that’s better I think.”

Van Gaal also admits that he fears the atmosphere, in the stands as well as outside the ground, could have a huge impact on the game and his side’s top-four chances.

Asked if they would use their less-than-warm reception as motivation, he continued: “You try that. But still there is a lot of emotion among the players. So I try to do that, but it’s not always successful.

“The way that we have been received, it is not the proper way of course and it always has an influence on the players. And that’s a pity.”