Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said that his team's frustrating goalless draw at home to Newcastle United does not mean that he needs to rush into the transfer market.
The three league games to date have seen United keep three clean sheets, but of greater concern is that Van Gaal's side have scored just twice in 270 minutes of Premier League action.
United failed to sign Spain international Pedro last week, losing out to rivals Chelsea, although Van Gaal claimed that signing the former Barcelona winger was not a priority.
However, Wayne Rooney has now failed to score in his last 10 games for the club and as the only striker trusted to start by the manager, it is proving a costly barren spell.
Mexican international Javier Hernandez came off the bench against Newcastle on Saturday and was denied a late winner by goalkeeper Tim Krul, while Rooney had a goal ruled out for offside.
Van Gaal dsaid that not only is there no urgent need to buy a striker before the transfer window closes, but that his team’s form means that there is no cause for concern.
“No, because we were three times the better team,” he said when asked if he were worried about his side’s struggles in front of goal, citing the 1-0 victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.
“So my worry is that we have to dominate the opponent and we did it today, we did it against Aston Villa and we did it against Tottenham Hotspur.
“I think against Tottenham Hotspur it was less, but against Aston Villa we dominate the game, against Brugge we dominate the game, and in preparation we dominated against Barcelona, against San Jose Earthquakes, against Club America; only PSG we don’t dominate. So it is not a bad score.
“I am satisfied with the performance, but not with the result and that’s the difference because we created a lot of chances and we only gave away two chances.
“Then you have to win the game, but when you don’t reward yourself that’s a big pity because at home we lost two points.”
Van Gaal joked that he had no concerns about Rooney’s goal drought and claimed that he should have been given the benefit of the doubt over his offside call, which came early in the first half.
“Wayne scored … only it was not allowed,” Van Gaal said. “When you see the TV it’s very doubtful so you need eyes then because it is like this: it is doubtful and the rules are, when it is doubtful, that you not flag.
“But it’s also football and I have said already many, many times you need more than equipment to help the referees or the linesman because it is not easy.”
Memphis Depay, who scored twice in a stunning performance in the mid-week Champions League play-off victory against Club Brugge, was more subdued against Newcastle.
But Van Gaal, whose side take a 3-1 lead to Bruges for the second leg on Wednesday, said that such inconsistency was to be expected.
“Of course the Brugge match gave him a lot of confidence, but again also too much,” Van Gaal said.
“Today he made not always the best choice, but that’s also the characteristic of a young player and it’s not so easy in the Premier League.”
Newcastle manager Steve McClaren, a former United assistant, believes his old club remain well positioned to challenge for honours.
Asked if United were in crisis, McClaren replied: “No, not at all. They know what they are doing.”
On his own side, he added: “We have made a lot of signings. They are going to get fitter and better and it is difficult to turn it around.
“I hope today will show them something. I will hammer it into them they can take confidence in that. I think this team can get better.”
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