Van Gaal defends tactics, says United ‘ahead’ of Spurs

The Dutchman, who has been under incessant pressure this season, took off young striker Marcus Rashford and played winger Ashley Young as a centre forward in the second half at White Hart Lane. 

United had restricted Tottenham before the break without offering much goal threat, but rather than switch the lively Anthony Martial to a central role, he left the Frenchman wide and played Young out of position. Young barely got a kick and Tottenham scored three goals in six minutes through Dele Alli, Toby Alderweireld and Erik Lamela to keep their Premier League title hopes alive and leave United struggling to finish in the top four. 

“It was more or less equal before the goal,” Van Gaal, whose side are fifth, four points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, told reporters before being asked to explain the substitution that had United fans ranting on social  media.