Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has revealed that he does not regret selling Danny Welbeck to Arsenal, Sky Sports reports.
The Red Devils were knocked out of the FA Cup quarter-finals after a 2-1 loss to the Gunners on Monday, which means United are set to go another season without any silverware.
And Welbeck, who moved to the Emirates on transfer deadline day last summer, scored the winner against his former club after a stray back-pass from Man United defender Antonio Valencia.
But despite this, Van Gaal insists he does not regret letting Welbeck leave Old Trafford in order to make way for Radamel Falcao, with the Colombian struggling for form and fitness since his move from Monaco.
Asked if he regretted selling Welbeck for Falcao, Van Gaal said: “He (Falcao) has scored four goals, had three or four assists and he stimulates the other players, so that is an aspect of the profession. But it is now easy for you to say that and you are happy to say that.
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“It’s very disappointing when you give the victory to your opponent,” said Van Gaal. “When you haven’t lost because of the opposition, you have lost because of yourself.
“The players are very disappointed because they know that it could be different. Matches are decided by goals and you see the second goal, it was nothing, we gave it away. The man who did that was the best man of my team and that’s also disappointing for him.”
Nacho Monreal put Arsene Wenger’s men into the lead in the 26th minute, but shortly after Wayne Rooney equalized from a brilliant Angel di Maria cross.
However, 17 minutes into the second half, Welbeck struck to advance Arsenal into the semi-final, with Di Maria also seeing red for pulling referee Michael Oliver’s shirt following an incident that did not go Argentine’s way.
“I think he’s touched the referee and that’s forbidden in every country, so he has no excuses,” said Van Gaal.
“In Spain he knows that he doesn’t touch the referee, but that is also in his emotion. I’ve already spoken with him, he knows my opinion but also I have to see on the video.”
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