Little can deny that Manchester United’s attack this season is misfiring.
Their two leading strikers, Wayne Rooney and summer signing Anthony Martial, have merely 6 goals between them, leading coach Van Gaal to throw midfielder Marouane Fellaini in the final three here and there.
With the January transfer market in full swing, though, fans will be hoping to see the Red Devils recruit a new goalscorer, something the club’s Dutch manager admitted is on his mind.
"I think that we need also the luck of a striker," said the 64-year-old.
Saturday's Sun back page - LVG orders a No 9 United boss: I need a striker #tomorrowspaperstoday #mufc pic.twitter.com/efCuWRrejC
— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) January 1, 2016
"There are several players who played in the striker's position. They need luck. How many players have had chances to score and why didn't they score? You cannot always explain that.
"We're always looking for solutions in the team, but we still have a good team and we can still score goals. I'm convinced of that. But we also need a little bit of luck."
The 20-time English Premier League giants have failed to win their last 8 games in all competitions, whilst games involving the Old Trafford side have been the lowest scoring games this season.
Games involving the Red Devils have produced the lowest number of goals this season
Van Gaal, prior to this campaign’s kick-off, released two formidable forwards in the form of Robin Van Persie and Javier Hernandez, with the latter netting 19 goals in 22 games for Bayer Leverkusen.
Nonetheless, Van Gaal claims he does not regret his decision, insisting that competition between strikers is not a method he prefers.
"I don't believe too much in competition," the former Netherlands boss added.
"I believe in trust and confidence. Maybe that's wrong, but I have done it all my life as a manager. I give trust to the players.”
However, seeing Chicharito go might prove costly, with The Express reporting that United have accepted that they will not be able to sign Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku, Sadio Mane, Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez in January.
This leaves Van Gaal short of options in the attackers department, though Lazio’s Brazilian goalscorer Felipe Anderson is believed to be available.
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