Louis Van Gaal says early goal against stoke removed man utd shakles

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said an early goal had made all the difference after his side beat Stoke City 3-0 in a vastly improved performance.

United had not scored a first-half goal in 11 games at Old Trafford and were booed off after losing 1-0 to Southampton in their previous home match. But Jesse Lingard's 14th-minute header eased the tension on Tuesday and United went on to score a superb second through Anthony Martial before the break and a third courtesy of captain Wayne Rooney in the second half.

Playing down suggestions that it had been United's best display of the season, Van Gaal said: "No, I don't think so. The difference is the first half we score and then it is much more easy. Michael Carrick said when you score like that in the first half, everything is going more easily."

"We have played games for 90 minutes with a lot of pressure and also against an opponent who had a higher level than Stoke City tonight (Tuesday). I think the players have made a great performance, not only defensively, but now also 'attackingly' because we created a lot of chances. We had fantastic finishing of team goals, building up from the back, which is what I like to see," he added.

Although he did not get on the scoresheet, Juan Mata was a pivotal performer for United in a central position behind Rooney, creating several chances and having opportunities to score himself. The Spaniard had been left out of United's starting line -up for their previous three Premier League games, but Van Gaal said that he cannot drop him again if he continues this form.