Louis van Gaal angry over ‘empty seats’ after 2-0 win over Crystal Palace keeps United in Champions League reckoning

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal reacted angrily to suggestions that his club’s supporters had voted with their feet by missing a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.

The Premier League side announced a near-capacity crowd of 75,277 for the win which maintained their bid to finish in the top four and claim a place in next season’s Champions League.

But it is understood that figure includes season ticket holders, regardless of whether or not they attend, and there were uncharacteristic empty seats at Old Trafford as full back Matteo Darmian scored his first goal for the club and forced Damien Delaney into an own goal for the opener.

“I didn’t see a lot of empty seats,” snapped the Dutchman. “But you saw that because you wanted to see it.”

However, Van Gaal did see England centre forward Wayne Rooney continue his comeback from two months out with a knee injury in a deeper midfield role – a solid 75-minute performance that may have put him in contention for a start in the weekend FA Cup semi-final against Everton.

“Now he has played 75 minutes so I build up his capacity in the matches, which I have done also with the other players, like Marcos Rojo,” said Van Gaal.

“He was the player who switched the play and I liked that very much.

“No player has a fixed position. I use a player where I think they can give a contribution in that game. It was more of a midfield role today also because of the way Crystal Palace was playing.