Manchester
United marched into the FA Cup quarterfinals with a 3-0 win at Shrewsbury on
Monday that at least temporarily eased the mounting pressure on Louis van Gaal.
Chris
Smalling, Juan Mata and
Jesse Lingard netted the goals as United wrapped up a
businesslike victory against their third tier hosts to secure a last eight date
with West Ham United at Old Trafford.
Following
speculation that an embarrassing defeat would be fatal to Van Gaal's hopes of
avoiding the sack, the United manager was relieved to see his side easily
navigate their way through a one-sided fifth round tie.
United,
humbled by Sunderland and then FC Midtjylland in their last two matches, took
37 minutes to make the breakthrough, but once Smalling opened the scoring the
result never looked in doubt.
"I
was very pleased. We have played 70 minutes fantastic, in a professional way,
creating chances and scoring goals," Van Gaal told BT Sport.
"Everyone
shall say Manchester United have to win against Shrewsbury Town, but for the
players it is fantastic because we are in the quarterfinals of the FA
Cup."
United
ended the game with 10 men when Keane was forced off with an injury after all
three substitutes had been used.
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