Unlike at Christmas, Louis van Gaal has no concerns of fixture overload after Manchester United were surprisingly held 0-0 by League Two Cambridge United on Friday.
The Dutchman, who has admitted the Premier League title may be beyond his side, feels the competition is his best chance of silverware this season.
And he welcomed the chance to take on Cambridge again even if Friday’s stalemate was an embarrassing result for the Old Trafford giants.
“We have to play another match but I don’t think that’s a bad thing because this season we don’t play in European competitions so it’s good we have an extra game in February,” Van Gaal told MUTV.
“I am very happy we are still in the FA Cup. We have to play at home and we have to beat them.
“Cambridge are the weaker team – everybody knows that – and you have to solve that problem [of how to beat them].”
Playing against opposition 76 league places below them United produced a lacklustre first half performance as Josh Coulson’s header almost gave Cambridge a half-time lead.
But after Van Gaal made his displeasure known at half-time, his side produced a much improved 45 minute display.
First Radamel Falcao and then Argentine Angel Di Maria drew fine saves from man-of-the-match Chris Dunn in the Cambridge goal.
The Reds did enough to win but no one will begrudge Cambridge, whose annual wage bill is only slightly more than Rooney’s monthly salary, their trip to the Theatre of Dreams.
And although Van Gaal was left to sort through another disappointing cup performance he will be pleased that his side were one of the casualties on a weekend of FA Cup upsets.
“You can lose these games, it is not as easy as everyone is thinking,” added the United boss.
“I know in these matches every aspect of a game is against you. The crowd is against you – that is nice I think – but also the pitch and also the defensive organisation of the opponent.”
Despite the manager’s complaints, United will at least be in the fifth round draw which takes place live on the BBC’s The One Show at 7pm.
And Van Gaal’s side now sit among the tournament favourites after Southampton, Manchester City and Chelsea, the only teams above United in the league, all crashed out on Saturday afternoon.
Main image courtesy of MUTV via YouTube, with thanks.
