Following Manchester United’s convincing 3-0 win over Stoke City, Louis van Gaal has spoken of his happiness at getting the result.

United scored two goals in the opening 25 minutes, having failed to score a first half goal since September, which Van Gaal, and Michael Carrick, believed was key to the victory.

I am a happy coach. When you see how we created the goals, with fantastic play building up from the back and finishing – that’s what I like. In the second half we controlled the game and did not give any chances to Stoke City which is unbelievable because Stoke have made it very difficult for a lot of teams.

Michael Carrick said to me what a difference a first-half goal makes because you play with much more confidence and you can do much more. I believe that was the difference. We scored two goals in the first half and it was an easier game than I expected.”

I always like team goals and the second one was a team goal, building up from the back and then switching the play to the other side and then a finish like that, it was fantastic. I also liked the first goal because it was also a team goal – a cross from Borthwick-Jackson on his birthday, an assist and then Jesse coming in from the other side. I am very happy.