LvG: I kissed Herrera at half-time

Louis van Gaal has spoken of his delight in Ander Herrera taking on board his advice and scoring just before half-time.

However, the Spaniard showed that he can still score without listening to the manager, as he proved with his second goal.

[Ander] has a very good kicking technique and he should only be more composed. I said to him ‘you have to control the ball before you shoot’. I said that to him again in yesterday’s training session, and then I kissed him at half-time because he had controlled the ball for the first time in his life and then he shot! But then I came after the second half to him and he said ‘without control I can do it also!’

Van Gaal was pleased with the number of goals we scored, particularly after drawing 1-1 away to Villa, and being unable to score against them even when they went down to 10 men.

I think we could have played better today but I knew in advance that it would be very difficult, that they would organise their defence and play very defensively. I am very pleased that we scored three goals because that’s not so easy against this defensive organisation. But as a manager you always want more, that we play with a higher ball tempo, but okay, I am very happy with the victory.