Louis van Gaal demanded one-on-one meetings with Manchester United players after humiliating defeat

Perplexed manager called stars into his office individually after the 2-1 defeat to FC Midtjylland last week

Louis van Gaal (GETTY IMAGES)

Louis van Gaal hauled his players into his office one by one following Manchester United’s embarrassing defeat to FC Midtjylland last week, according to reports.

The United manager was left perplexed by his side’s 2-1 defeat in the first leg of their last-32 tie against the Danish champions. Memphis Depay gave United the lead but the hosts came back to win through strikes from Pione Sisto and Paul Onuachu.

United go into the second leg at Old Trafford this evening needing a 1-0 win to progress and with confidence boosted by Monday night’s win over Shrewsbury in the FA Cup.

However, Van Gaal was so worried by the first-leg defeat in Denmark that he called each player involved in the game into his office at Carrington last Friday.

According to the Daily Mail, the meetings began in the morning and continued for much of the afternoon, with each player spending up to 20 minutes in Van Gaal’s office offering explanations into the loss and the sense of gloom around Old Trafford.

The Dutchman has since urged his players to be ‘horny’ for the second leg tonight, calling for passion from his players. “Desire, hunger, a lot of times I use the word horny!” the United boss said.

“I know everybody is thinking Manchester United have to win against Midtjylland. That is because of the status of Manchester United, but you have to analyse the opposition.

“When I see the data of Midtjylland, they have always won against English opponents.

“Most of their players shall be excited and it will be the match of their lives — it is not a good signal for Manchester United.”