United used anger to win – Van Gaal

Now Van Gaal hopes his squad will be able to play with more freedom after ending their rotten run.

Following a winless December, the result was United’s first victory in nine games and Louis van Gaal’s first win over the South Wales side in four attempts as manager.

“Business with Man United is going very well, we sell more shirts than expected”, said Hainer in an interview with German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung.

Something of a siege mentality developed at Old Trafford during their slump.

“He’s come in and obviously had a lot of pressure but you can see right from the off he’s not afraid to be direct, get at people, use his pace and his tricks”, he added.

So, while Martial deserves great acclaim for his individual performances this season, it’s noteworthy that he’s also been a creative outlet and improved the team’s general play. “Unfortunately, he couldn’t score against Chelsea (in a 0-0 draw), but I think he will be very happy today”.

Martial powered home Ashley Young’s cross less than two minutes after the restart to ease the tension that had built inside Old Trafford following yet another tiresome display in the first half.

Martial’s second game-changing moment came after Swansea equalised on one of their rare forays into United’s penalty area. They entertained for periods, especially in the second half, though it felt like the confidence of the team was draining away after yet another opening period in which they failed to score.

Despite a sequence including successive defeats against Bournemouth, Norwich and Stoke, van Gaal was told by his bosses that they value his management.

Van Gaal wants to be a successful coach again but needs his players onside to win matches, let alone trophies.

“Now we are playing much more matches but still it is an achievement. But you can not always do that”, he said.

Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski also paid tribute to the quality of Rooney’s finish, which allowed the 30-year-old to end a 553-minute goal drought in all competitions.

But how can Wayne Rooney win over the critics who have insisted that the England captain is past it and should be dropped by Louis Van Gaal?

“He does everything we expect from him as a captain, but also as a player and in what position he plays”.