‘Always tough against the weaker teams’: Manchester United’s Louis van Gaal wary of Cambridge

'It is always tough to play against, in the mind, weaker teams' says Louis van Gaal before Manchester United face fourth-tier Cambridge United in the FA Cup.

Louis van Gaal led Manchester United over Yeovil Town 2-0 in the FA Cup third round. Ian Kington / AFP

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said on Thursday that cup upsets in his native Netherlands means he will take nothing for granted when his side face Cambridge United in the FA Cup.

United, who last won the FA Cup in 2004, face the lowest ranked side left in the competition when they go to Cambridge, who are mid-table in the fourth tier of English football, on Friday night.

But Van Gaal believes the physical presence of the home side, who only regained their place back in the Football League last season, means they will still pose a threat in the fourth-round tie.

He said: “It is always tough to play against, in the mind, weaker teams because in the players’ mind it’s a weaker team.

“For example, on Wednesday PSV Eindhoven – the number one in the (Dutch) league – lost against the number three of the second division (Roda JC) and it shall happen also in the FA Cup.

“There are always surprises and I hope we are not the surprise. When you see Cambridge and analyse them, they play very direct with long balls.

“They have five or six players above 1 metre, 90 (6 ft 2in), so for us it is difficult to defend. That’s why you have to prepare yourself very well. It is not so easy to beat Cambridge United.”

Van Gaal confirmed that striker Robin van Persie and defender Luke Shaw are fit to return after missing United’s 2-0 win at Queens Park Rangers last weekend.

Defenders Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans are out, along with wing-back Ashley Young, but Van Gaal looks certain to select a strong side.

United suffered the embarrassment of going out of the League Cup to League One side Milton Keynes Dons earlier this season and Van Gaal won’t want a repeat in a competition which provides United with their last realistic chance of silverware this season and which Van Gaal recognises as a major honour in the English game.

He added: “It is different more in the atmosphere I think. Here it is very important for the fans and people and players – that’s the difference.

“Okay in Germany it is fantastic if you win the cup but not like here. Also the attendances are much higher here than in Germany or Spain.

“Of course when you play Barcelona or Atletico Madrid there is always a full crowd but there are not many matches in Germany and Spain like that.

“In the Netherlands the cup is not so important but in the last years it became much more important. In the Netherlands Ajax, PSV and Feyernoord are out of the cup – that’s remarkable. It will be a long time before that happens again.”

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