Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has insisted that the referee was right to award his side a penalty during their 2-1 win over Wolfsburg in the Champions League.

Although the Dutchman claims that Daniel Caligiuri's handball offence warranted a spot kick, he admits that his team were fortunate the official spotted it.

"It was very difficult because they scored so early. Then we did very well, we created a lot of chances. We don't finish it and it was a lucky penalty I think," he told BT Sport.

"Of course it is a penalty but there are some refs not whistling for that. We have created much more chances, Rooney and Depay could have scored and you finish the game.

"Then we score and after that it was suffering. A lot of players are very tired, a combination of a lot of matches but we didn't give much away. How many chances have we given away? Maybe one. We have to keep the ball better in the second half."

Juan Mata converted United's first-half penalty to cancel out Caligiuri's opener for Wolfsburg, before Chris Smalling netted the Red Devils' winner in the second period.