(Manchester United News)
Louis van Gaal declared his satisfaction after Manchester United overcame dogged Aston Villa to move up to third in the Barclays Premier League table.
The boss had expected his side would find it tough to break down the well-organised visitors, so he was more than pleased the Reds ended up with three goals.
"I think we could have played better today but I knew in advance that it would be very difficult, that they would organise their defence and play very defensively," van Gaal told MUTV.
"I am very pleased that we scored three goals because that's not so easy against this defensive organisation.
"But as a manager you always want more, that we play with a higher ball tempo, but okay, I am very happy with the victory."
Ander Herrera was the architect of the triumph at Old Trafford with two fine goals, firstly controlling and finishing with his left foot, then calmly converting a right-footed shot in stoppage time.
"[Ander] has a very good kicking technique and he should only be more composed," van Gaal continued. "I said to him 'you have to control the ball before you shoot'.
"I said that to him again in yesterday's training session, and then I kissed him at half-time because he had controlled the ball for the first time in his life and then he shot!
"But then I came after the second half to him and he said 'without control I can do it also!'"
In between Herrera’s double, Wayne Rooney controlled substitute Angel Di Maria’s cross and fired home a stunner that was rightly praised by van Gaal, though the boss was unhappy his team then switched off to allow Christian Benteke to give Villa hope.
"It was beautiful and also the assist of Di Maria," van Gaal said. "I think he was one minute on the pitch and he already has an assist. That's fantastic.
"But after Wayne’s fantastic goal, the concentration went again. You saw that – at the kick-off we didn't have pressure on the ball and then you know what can happen.
"We also know that Benteke is very dangerous in front of the goal because he can head and shoot, and he also scored against us in the away match. It was a stupid goal against us."
United are now up to third, a point ahead of Manchester City, who visit Crystal Palace on Monday. It sets up a mouthwatering derby at Old Trafford next weekend.
Van Gaal added: "I have heard that Southampton lost, Liverpool lost and now we have to wait for Tottenham Hotspur. But we already have a big gap.
"We can look up in the table. The next match is for the second position or the third, I think."
