Sports
Man-U coach Van Gaal promises better show next year
London: Louis van Gaal has told Manchester United fans that 2015 will be a year to remember – for all the right reasons.
As United head into the New Year, their supporters will reflect on a roller-coaster 12-month period that has seen them hit more lows than highs, as per reports.
For the first time in 28 years, the club fired their manager. David Moyes’ six-year contract was ripped up after just 10 months and United went on to finish seventh in the Barclays Premier League.
The board turned to Van Gaal to revive the club’s fortunes, and the early signs were not good as United won just one of their opening six games and crashed out of the Capital One Cup to Sky Bet League One side MK Dons.
The Dutchman has slowly started turning things round though and at the half way stage United are third in the table following a run of seven wins and two draws in their last nine matches.
“We are improving every week and we shall be better in 2015. Just watch,” the United manager said Wednesday.
“We are still in a process. I think the players understand the philosophy, and that’s why we are improving – but we can improve more when we have all the players available.”
Van Gaal strives for perfection though so he is not happy with United’s current plight and is hoping there will be a better year ahead for the club’s fans.
“I think the fans were fantastic because we were in a moment with 10 matches and 13 points – that is not good, I think more weak than good. They have supported us is because of the fighting spirit of my team,” he said.
“We were not always ahead in matches but they have fought to the end and a lot of times with good success, so I think we can be satisfied about the points now – 36. We are in our goal, I think. What I have already said, we are improving every week. We can see 2015 with open eyes.”
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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia
The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.