Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admitted his team were “lucky” to come away from Southampton with three points, after Robin van Persie’s smash-and-grab brace sealed a 2-1 win at St Mary’s.
The Red Devils were far from their best on the south coast, but managed to take the lead when Van Persie took advantage of a mistake from defender Jose Fonte to score.
Saints’ key man Graziano Pelle levelled on the half-hour mark after a blunder from calamitous midfielder Marouane Fellaini, but another error from the hosts saw Van Persie strike again in the second half to seal an unlikely victory.
After the game Van Gaal conceded Southampton were the better team, and, while praising the influence of Van Persie, explained he has to find a way to get his players producing the quality they offer in training on matchdays.
"In the second half, okay, we have not given a lot away but not so much in spite of that Southampton were the better team," said the Dutch boss.
"Robin Van Persie was one of only three players on the pitch of Manchester United who were good, or maybe very good.
"He had a great influence on the result, until now that is his best performance, but too many players were not good.
"There was a range of course between good and bad, but they were not good.
"Normally you have six, seven, eight who are good and three in that other range, but today there were too many players in that range who were not good, I believe."
Before the game Van Gaal had said if they won this match they would have momentum ahead of a frantic festive period, but he admitted that the manner of their win meant that wasn’t so.
He added: "No, the performance was not good enough so I cannot say it.
“I'm sorry, because we were the lucky team this evening but maybe because we are in the moment you can say that also."
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