WOLFSBURG: Louis van Gaal says Manchester United just have themselves to fault in front of Tuesday's victor takes-all conflict at Wolfsburg as they offer to stay away from an early Champions League exit.
Van Gaal's Red Devils must beat Group B pioneers Wolfsburg to guarantee their place in the knockout stages having permitted the Germans to usurp them at the highest point of the table by being held to a goalless attract at home to PSV Eindhoven a fortnight back.
Pioneers Wolfsburg will achieve the thump out stages without precedent for the club's history with only a draw, while United, who are a point behind, know anything not exactly a win could see them wiped out.
Nonetheless, United could in any case qualify regardless of the fact that they attract or lose to Wolfsburg, if PSV don't better their outcome at home to CSKA Moscow in the other gathering match.
In any case, Van Gaal needs to leave nothing to risk in Germany.
"We have a tremendous Champions League match at Wolfsburg," Van Gaal told the club's United Review magazine.
"After the baffling result against Eindhoven at Old Trafford, we now realize what we need to do so as to advance to the knockout phases of the opposition: win.
"We have not made it simple for ourselves, but rather we realize that triumph in Germany won't just ensure capability, additionally guarantee we complete top of our gathering."
Completing top of Group B will mean United keep away from any semblance of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the last 16.
United lost at the same stage four years prior when a 2-1 rout at FC Basel saw them bow out in the 2011/12 gathering stage and Van Gaal's side is as yet searching for their first away triumph in the gathering for this battle.
United's general away record against sides from Germany is won five, lost five with four draws.
Their fans will have great recollections of their last outing to Wolfsburg when previous England striker Michael Owen scored a cap trap in their 3-1 win in December 2009 as the Red Devils came to the quarter-finals.
Diego Benaglio and Marcel Schaefer are the main survivors in Wolfsburg's first group and VfL have lost seven in succession against Premier League clubs in Europe.
Their last home thrashing to an English club was a 2-0 misfortune to Everton last season in the Europa League's gathering stages.
Amid his two-year rule as Bayern Munich mentor, Van Gaal was unbeaten in four experiences with Wolfsburg, winning three of them.
Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is set to play his first diversion for the Red Devils in Germany since transfering from Bayern Munich.
United were held to a goalless draw by West Ham at Old Trafford on Saturday which left them fourth in the Premier League table, while Wolfsburg endured a 2-1 rout at home to Dortmund on Saturday.
In all rivalries, Wolfsburg have lost only four of their last 42 home recreations and have a 100 for each penny record there in the Champions League this term.
"We need to win to advance, so we need to return to business and get ready for what is an enormous amusement for us," said Wolfsburg mentor Dieter Hecking as his side hope to keep their fantasies alive of coming to the knockout stages.
Source : Dawn
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