I want to kiss Memphis Depay tonight, says Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal

Manchester United manager delighted as new signing gets off the mark against Club Brugge

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Memphis Depay put in a man-of-the-match display against Club Brugge at Old Trafford. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:00am, 19 Aug 2015Updated: 10:21am, 19 Aug 2015

Memphis Depay announced his arrival at Manchester United by scoring a first-half double and providing a late assist for Marouane Fellaini in a 3-1 win over Bruges in the first leg of their Champions League playoff on Tuesday.

When you score two goals and the assist also, normally in the world you are the hero

Louis van Gaal

Playing his third match in United’s iconic No 7 shirt since joining from PSV Eindhoven in preseason, the 21-year-old Netherlands winger rescued his new club from potential embarrassment after the Belgian side took a surprise 8th-minute lead through an own goal by Michael Carrick.

Depay equalized five minutes later with a low shot from narrowly inside the area for his first goal for United, then put the 20-time English league champions ahead with a curling shot from around 20 yards just before half-time – again after cutting in from the left wing.

Depay then whipped in a superb cross that substitute Fellaini – a Belgium international – headed in with virtually the last touch of the game. It moved United closer to the lucrative group stage of Europe’s top competition.

“I want to kiss him tonight,” United manager Louis van Gaal said. “When you score two goals and the assist also, normally in the world you are the hero.”

United, three-time European champions, are looking to get back into the Champions League after failing to qualify for the competition last season.

Club Brugge will cling to their away goal, gifted by Carrick when he diverted past his own goalkeeper a low, deflected free kick from Victor Vazquez.