Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 9y

Arsene Wenger: Manchester United's Louis van Gaal was right to go direct

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has defended Louis van Gaal's use of direct tactics in Manchester United's 1-1 draw at West Ham and insisted his team would emulate them.

Hammers manager Sam Allardyce claimed last week that "United played long-ball football more than I had ever witnessed from them in the past," while Van Gaal produced a four-page dossier to try and show that his side had not.

But while Wenger has a reputation as one of football's purists, he believes Van Gaal does not have to apologise for his approach.

"There was no reason [to]," he told reporters. "A big club has a responsibility to win and try to win with style -- but first try to win.

"I didn't understand really what the problem was. Man United went a bit longer in the last 10 minutes. I found it completely logical.

"If I am in a game in the last five minutes, we have a free-kick and we have three monsters up front, I do not say: 'Play a short ball.'

"A team goes naturally from its strong points, and an intelligent team knows how to exploit its strong points."

Wenger said Arsenal were prepared to use the physical power of target man Olivier Giroud, adding that he understood why United had been willing to aim for the tall Marouane Fellaini when they needed a goal.

He explained: "When we have Giroud on the pitch, the players understand quickly that we can play a bit longer, we can cross the ball more, because he will win the ball in the air.

"I don't even think Van Gaal said to them [United]: 'Go longer'. When they saw Fellaini on the pitch, the guy at the back said: 'I'll kick it to Fellaini and [Robin] van Persie or [Wayne] Rooney can score the goal.' It's normal."

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