Manchester United: Louis van Gaal hopes his team can end goal drought ahead of CSKA Moscow clash

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is hopeful his team can end their scoring drought when they take on CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday night (3 November). The Red Devils have suffered stalemate in their three previous matches against Manchester City, Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace in the last fortnight.

The Dutch manager has come under criticism due to his team's performances and has been criticised by former players for adopting a very negative and defensive style of play. But the manager has defended his team, claiming that it is difficult to build a rhythm due to the highly competitive nature of the Premier League.

Wayne Rooney has also come in for criticism along with the manager due to his lack of goals this season. He has been reinstated in his preferred No 9 role, but has scored just two goals in the league thus far this campaign. The manager, however, has backed his skipper to find his form, and made it clear that his team are working very hard to improve their offensive play.

"We - the players, the manager and the staff, we try to do that but I think the rhythm of the game in the Premier League is more difficult to develop that. You can see it every week and not only with Manchester United, with the other teams. Anybody can win or lose to each other. Maybe it is more difficult in the Premier League, I don't know, but we are trying to do that," Van Gaal told United's official site.

"Football is not a process. Football is not creating chances. No, football is you have to score goals because that makes the difference. We have to improve that, we are busy with that and I hope that we shall score against CSKA Moscow."

"But I know that it is very difficult because they are very organised. They shall play more defensively than Crystal Palace for example. So it shall be very difficult but still we try to score goals," the Dutchman added.