“We were very close to scoring more and I could have had two goals. Sadly, the goalkeeper did very well and the other chances were not that clear.”

Manager Louis van Gaal insisted he was pleased with the 28-year-old’s showing and thinks he is well on his way to full form and fitness.
He said: “I’m a manager and you can’t always give the credit to the most expensive player and if a young player never gets a chance then I’m not a very good manager.
“I have to treat all of the players at the same level with the same rules and same demands. It’s difficult to understand because the outside world is thinking when you pay a lot for the player then you have to put him in the squad. I do not agree with that opinion.
“But he (Falcao) has played and I was very pleased. I have to judge that with every player. That’s also an aspect, one aspect as to whether I put him in the line-up, to put him on the bench or in the stand.
“But I have also explained that last week. I have a lot of players who, last week, played their first match and I have to take into account which players don’t play 90 minutes and therefore I need players on the bench also.
“That’s also an aspect. But my friends of the media don’t notice that!”