Van Gaal on misfiring Falcao: I have to judge him on goals

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admits he will judge Radamel Falcao on the goals he scores after the striker again failed to hit the target against QPR.

Falcao was recalled to the starting XI at Loftus Road after being left out against Southampton last week, but wasted a number of opportunities to make his mark.

The former Atletico Madrid forward was twice denied by Robert Green before failing to make contact with two crosses along the edge of the six-yard box late on.

And though Van Gaal admits there is more to Falcao's game than just goals, he insists the Monaco loanee should have found the net on at least one occasion against the Rs.

"In the first half we created only one chance which I think Falcao had to score and then he had three chances in the second half," the Dutchman told reporters.

"It’s not important what I think about Falcao because he wants to score goals. I have to judge how he has played and scoring goals is an important aspect of a striker.

"But for me it’s also important that he can be an attacking point of the attack and I think he did well."

Second-half strikes from substitutes Marouane Fellaini and James Wilson secured the three points for United and ended a three-match winless run in the Premier League.

Wilson's introduction saw the 20-time English champions switch from a 3-5-2 formation to a more conventional 4-4-2, and Van Gaal believes the change of system allowed his side to break down their hosts with more ease.

"We played in the first half like QPR wanted us to," he added. "We did the same thing as them, through the air and long balls. QPR are better than us at that.

"You have to play on the ground and in the second half we changed the shape. That helped us also. But the players are winning always.

"They have to show it on the pitch at the right moment and that is very difficult to do it very good every week.

"I think that when you win, everybody is happy and more comfortable. We lost to Southampton last time when we were the better team with the better chances."