Rene Meulensteen on Manchester United’s devolution since Alex Ferguson left his post

There was once a time, young fans, when Manchester United would actually score goals in the first half of games.

No, really! I promise. United have come in for heavy criticism under Louis van Gaal for their laboured style of play, managing just 19 first half goals in the Premier League this season. It often takes the modern-day United some time to get going and the ponderous, lumbering nature of the team is a source of much frustration for supporters. The 2016 United is a far cry from the great teams under Alex Ferguson who prided themselves on pace, counter-attacking immediacy and bringing entertainment to the Old Trafford masses. And one of Ferguson's most dependable assistant coaches, Rene Meulensteen, has claimed that the speed at which van Gaal orders his team to play just "isn't United." “When United played under Sir Alex, the lads were always stepping out for two reasons — to win, and to entertain,” Meulensteen told The Times. “If we did go down, we did it in flames, and not like a night candle.” “Van Gaal wants the team to be patient,” he added. “That is why the team plays sometimes in a tempo that isn’t United. Now it can become very laboured.”