Aston Villa 1 Manchester United 1: Louis van Gaal hard to please even after Radamel Falcao scores

On loan Colombian striker headed in the equaliser

Radamel Falcao celebrates scoring the equaliser against Aston Villa (Getty Images)

Louis van Gaal, the Manchester United manager, refused to offer any guarantees to loan signing Radamel Falcao, even after the Colombian striker earned United a point with the equaliser in a 1-1 draw with 10-man Aston Villa on Saturday.

Falcao, who has been hampered by injuries in his four months at United, headed home in the 53rd minute to cancel out Christian Benteke’s sublime first-half opener for Villa. Yet despite the striker looking to have finally shaken off his long-running calf injury, Van Gaal refused to offer him a regular starting place in the team.

“It was a beautiful goal, I liked him today,” he said. “I am very happy for him and I am always happy when Manchester United score. I have to compare players every week, there’s always a question for every player, not only for Falcao.”

Van Gaal was unhappy with the draw, which left United seven points behind the Premier League leaders Chelsea, and felt his side had wasted a good opportunity to continue their winning run.

“We dropped two points. We were the better team and that’s frustrating when you’re the better team and you don’t win these kind of games,” he said. “When you want to be a part of the title race you have to win these games.

“We weren’t so aggressive in the first half as we are usually. We kept the ball much better but didn’t create so much because we were not looking for the forwards.

“It was not good enough to catch the victory. We were not creative enough in the second half but we had more aggression, so that was the plus. We have a draw and that’s why I’m a little frustrated because [we] could have won the game. We didn’t do it but we were responsible for that.”

Villa held firm despite Gabby Agbonlahor’s red card with 25 minutes to go and manager Paul Lambert was left baffled why he was dismissed by referee Lee Mason after what looked like just a collision with Ashley Young.

“If that’s a red card you might as well pack up because it won’t be a game of football. I spoke to [Villa goalkeeper] Brad Guzan after the game and he said Ashley Young admitted he felled Gabby, so work that one out,” said Lambert who will look at appealing.

“That’s not a red card, I will stick up for him all day long. It’s a tackle where two lads have gone in for the ball.”

Lambert added: “I thought we were excellent considering everything has gone against us this week – injuries, suspensions and ineligibility. Look at our bench, it was a kindergarten. The performance was absolutely terrific. Christian scored a world-class goal and gives you something to hold on to.”