Man Utd 2-1 Wolfsburg
by Simon Williams
at Old Trafford

LOUIS VAN GAAL refused to praise Juan Mata after another terrific display in Wednesday night’s 2-1 win over Wolfsburg, saying he has seen the Spanish midfielder play better.

The Bundesliga side took the lead after just four minutes when Daniel Caligiuri fired the ball home after some neat build-up play.

United had two good chances to level the score with Wayne Rooney blasting the ball over the crossbar from close range before Memphis Depay headed straight at keeper Diego Benaglio.

But no German team has kept a clean sheet in their last 16 Champions League games against the Reds.

And that run continued when Wolfsburg goal-scorer Caligiuri handled the ball in the area and referee Viktor Kassai immediately pointed to the spot.

Mata stepped up to take the resulting penalty and score his first Champions League goal since December 2012.

The Spaniard was then involved in his side’s winner, back-heeling the ball into the path of Chris Smalling who stretched to steer home.

But despite having a hand in both the goals, United boss Van Gaal refused to praise the impressive performance of Mata.

He told reporters: “I don’t speak about individual performances but I have seen Mata playing better than today.

“I can say as a manager that he played very well and agree with you, but I don’t agree with you.”

Wolfsburg manager Dieter Hecking described Smalling’s winner as a “scheisse tor” — shit goal — as United saw out the game to secure their first victory in the group stage of this seasons Champion’s League.