Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal told his players to ignore their unhappy fans at half-time in the Champions League win over CSKA Moscow on Tuesday, Jesse Lingard has revealed.
United beat the Russian league leaders 1-0 thanks a 79th-minute header from captain Wayne Rooney, who was set up by Lingard.
But they had failed to score in their previous three games and supporters chanted "attack, attack, attack" before kick-off -- and they repeated it more loudly when the half-time whistle went.
Lingard, 22, told reporters that Van Gaal's message at the break had been to "keep going and perform the same as the first half. Be patient, ignore the fans and keep playing your own game."
In the second half, fans booed Van Gaal's decision to substitute Anthony Martial and bring on Marouane Fellaini and sang the Frenchman's name along with that of Ander Herrera, who was introduced in the 89th minute.
Van Gaal said in his postmatch news conference that the result justified his decisions, adding that he had been aware of the disapproval in the stands.
"Of course I heard that," he said. "I am not deaf. That is the opinion of the fans. After that, they shall not be disappointed with the decision of the manager."
Lingard, who started on the left wing and then was moved to the right when Juan Mata was replaced, was praised for his performance.
He added: "I was trying to be as direct as I could and get the crowd on their feet.
"Obviously I had to be direct at the right time, so we had to be patient sometimes. I'm glad the goal came."
On Wednesday, midfielder Michael Carrick rejected suggestions that Van Gaal's brand of football was "conservative."
Van Gaal was branded defensive after his team drew three consecutive games 0-0 but Carrick said: "I don't think it's more conservative. I just think it's slightly different.
"There is a lot made of tactics and things at the minute but as players we can't get too involved in that. We just do what the manager tells us."