Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has expressed his concerns about the aerial threat posed by Andy Carroll ahead of tonight’s clash against West Ham.
The Red Devils have been vulnerable from set pieces all season and with Hammers boss Slaven Bilic set to start Carroll up front, the sight of the imposing striker attacking balls in the air has left the Dutchman in a state of worry.
Van Gaal addressed the threat when speaking to the media as reported by Mail Sport: “We are normally the smallest team in the Premier League so we have problems with set plays.
“I am very worried about that [Carroll]. I am always organising. We always have a meeting about that – every game – and it also takes a long time to organise it well.”
Carroll tormented Arsenal at the start of April, netting a hat-trick as the Gunners’ defence failed to cope with his physical presence and he will need to be kept quiet by United if they want to come away from Upton Park with a positive result.
United can move above rivals Manchester City with victory at the Boleyn Ground and that will boost their chances of claiming a top-four finish in the table.
Goals from Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini gave Van Gaal’s side a win when the sides met in the FA Cup quarter-final last month and recent history favours the visitors as they haven’t lost to the Hammers in the league away from home since 2007.
COMMENTS