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Louis van Gaal: 'Defenders not to blame'

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal believes that his defenders are not to blame for the team's recent results.

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has deflected attention away from his defenders, claiming that they are not to be blamed for his side's inconsistent start to the season.

Van Gaal's team has been leaking goals, conceding five times to Leicester City and four times to MK Dons in the League Cup.

However, the Dutchman admits that it is his attackers that should be doing more to recover possession.

"I want to improve so that we don't lose the ball so easily. That's our problem, not our defence. We're losing the ball easily, but that's also the character of our team, because we have a lot of creative players and they need more discipline," the 63-year-old said, according to Goal.com.

"So we're looking for a balance in attacking football, without thinking too much in only attacking, but also guarding your defence. I want that my defensive organisation is better but the defence begins in the striker's position.

"It's team work so, when we concede a goal, it's not only because of an individual error in the defence - it starts somewhere else, and that [is something] we have to analyse and improve."

Van Gaal's side host Everton on Sunday, with the Dutchman hoping that his players will be able to keep a clean sheet for only the third time this season.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool20145148202847
2Arsenal21127241192243
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest21125430201041
4Newcastle UnitedNewcastle21115537221538
5Chelsea21107441261537
6Manchester CityMan City2110563829935
7Aston Villa2110563132-135
8Bournemouth219753225734
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2171043229331
10Fulham217953230230
11Brentford218494037328
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd217592629-326
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham217592741-1426
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs21731143321124
15Crystal Palace215972328-524
16Everton203891526-1117
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2144133148-1716
18Ipswich TownIpswich2137112037-1716
19Leicester CityLeicester2135132346-2314
20Southampton2113171347-346


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