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Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal warned of danger ahead for his team in the Champions League if they do not learn to close out games more convincingly.
 Juan Mata scored a penalty and set up a goal for Chris Smalling as United came from behind to beat Wolfsburg 2-1 at Old Trafford on Wednesday and claim their first win in Group B after an opening loss to PSV Eindhoven.
 But United endured several nervy moments before the final whistle, with Andre Schurrle and Ricardo Rodriguez going close, and Van Gaal was dismayed by his side’s momentary loss of defensive wherewithal.
 “After [Smalling’s goal] it was not good any more and that is remarkable because we’ve kept the ball in our possession very well in the last five, six matches,” said the Dutchman, whose side have won their last four games.

 “I think we have given a lot in the first half to come back in the game, and [there is] also the culmination of matches of the last weeks, because I cannot understand that we gave the ball away so easily.
 “I think the team spirit kept us in the match.”
Read all our Champions League coverage here
 He added: “We have to improve a lot for Manchester United to be at the top of Europe.
 “Today we have won this game, but it could be also in a better way. I think that we deserved to win, because we created much more chances than Wolfsburg, when you count all the chances.”

 Daniel Caligiuri put Wolfsburg ahead in the fourth minute, after United right-back Antonio Valencia failed to step up and play him offside, but then conceded the penalty when Mata’s cross struck his outstretched hand.
 Mata scored the penalty, teed up Smalling’s 53rd-minute winner with a delightful improvised flick and proved a constant source of invention, but Van Gaal was reluctant to join in with praise of the Spaniard’s display.
READ MORE > Lessons in leadership from Alex Ferguson
 “I don’t speak about individual performances, but I have seen Mata playing better than today,” he said.
 Van Gaal was more forthcoming with plaudits about Smalling, whose neatly taken goal capped another commanding performance at centre-back.
 “He played a very good match, especially defensively,” the United manager said.
 “The way he scored the goal was outstanding, especially for a defender and especially for him because he is not doing that so much. Now he has the confidence to do that. I’m very pleased with his performance.”

It was very difficult because they scored so early
Louis van Gaal
 Mata revealed after the game that he had replaced Wayne Rooney – who spooned a glorious first-half chance over the bar – as first-choice penalty-taker and Van Gaal confirmed that it had been his decision.
 “I take all the decisions,” he said when asked by a journalist if he had discussed the matter with Rooney.
 “I communicate always with my players. Everybody knows that, except you.”

 Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking felt that his side were “unlucky” to concede the penalty from which Mata equalised and described Smalling’s winner – which stemmed from a mishit shot by Bastian Schweinsteiger – as a “s*** goal” to concede.
 He also made a convincing argument that Morgan Schneiderlin should have been shown a second yellow card for tripping Julian Draxler as the Wolfsburg playmaker bore down on goal late in the game.
 But with all four teams in the group now level on three points, he is optimistic about his side’s chances of reaching the last 16 ahead of a double-header against PSV, who lost 3-2 at CSKA Moscow.
 “When the draw was made it was clear we could get results against any of the teams,” Hecking said.
 “I saw that in Moscow where we dominated and won [1-0]. We showed what we could do here against Manchester United.
 “It comes down to the next two games against PSV, where we can establish the basis for progressing to the next round. But as Louis van Gaal said, you have to win your home games.” 


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Louis van Gaal slams careless Manchester United players as they scrape past Wolfsburg

Daley Blind, Chris Smalling and Bastian Schweinsteiger in action with Wolfsburg's Naldo and Josuha Guilavogui. Photo: Reuters

Juan Mata levels from the spot. Photo: AP

Bastian Schweinsteiger rues a missed chance. Photo: AP

Chris Smalling stretches to turn Mata's flick into the net. Photo: AP

Wayne Rooney and fans can't believe he missed a chance. Photo: Reuters

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Sergio Aguero celebrates his winner. Photo: Reuters

Sergio Aguero makes no mistake. Photo: Reuters

Sergio Aguero sends Monchengladbach's keeper the wrong way. Photo: AP

Lars Stindl reacts as City players celebrate the winning penalty. Photo: AP

Monchengladbach's Lars Stindl asks Martin Demichelis to be his wife. Photo: EPA 

Demichelis has a header cleared off the line, but Nicolas Otamendi put the rebound in via a deflection off Andreas Christensen. Photo: Reuters

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Alfred Finnbogason celebrates scoring the winner for Olympiakos. Photo: EPA

Felipe Pardo celebrates the first goal. Photo: AFP

Arsene Wenger hit out at questioners. Photo: AFP

Olympiakos celebrate the second goal. Photo: Reuters

David Ospina scores an own goal. Photo: Reuters

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Maicon celebrates scoring the winner. Photo: AFP

Iker Casillas celebrates in front of Cesc Fabregas. Photo: AFP

Andre Andre scores the opener. Photo: AFP

Jose Mourinho was centre of attention on his return to Porto. Photo: AP

Diego Costa gets sandwiched between Porto’s Ruben Neves and  Maxi Pereira. Photo: AP

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Ferguson's obssessive zeal meant umpteen trophies, but there wasn't much time to relax with the family. Photo: AP

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Ferguson gives Arsene Wenger a few tips on how to lead. Photo: AFP

The statue of Alex Ferguson outside the Old Trafford stand named after him. Photo: Reuters 

Sport

Football

Spaniard scores one and makes the winner as Van Gaal's side fight back


Juan Mata scored one goal and made another as Manchester United came from behind to beat Wolfsburg 2-1 on Wednesday and kick their Champions League campaign into gear


Louis van Gaal slams careless Manchester United players as they scrape past Wolfsburg

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Spaniard scores one and makes the winner as Van Gaal's side fight back

Spaniard scores one and makes the winner as Van Gaal's side fight back