Manchester United ‘keeper Edwin van der Sar targets response against Newcastle after FA Cup defeat

Champions League: Chelsea – Manchester United, Edwin van der Sar

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Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is looking for his side to pick themselves up from their FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City with a win over Newcastle United on Tuesday evening.

United were stunned by Yaya Toure’s goal, which ended any chance of a possible treble – although their chances of Premier League success were enhanced by Liverpool’s draw against Arsenal on Sunday – and Van der Sar, who will retire this summer, is looking for an immediate response at St. James’ Park.

“It won’t be difficult to pick ourselves up,” he said.

“We know how important the league is. We are in first position, so we just have to make the best of it.

“We were a little bit tired on Saturday,” he added. “The pace of our game was not quick enough.

“We have played a big number of games in the last three or four weeks and against Newcastle we must do better.”

United only need 13 points from their remaining six games to guarantee the title, and although few see this United side as, for want of another term, ‘vintage’, Van der Sar believes the side has strength and character which allow them to come through tricky moments such as Saturday’s defeat.

“It is always nicer when you find form straight away,” added van der Sar.

“We were a bit scrappy in the first half of the season and conceded some last-minute goals that cost us a few points.

“When things like that happen, it doesn’t do your self-confidence a lot of good.

“On the positive side, you need mental strength in certain games when you keep conceding in the last minute or the ball is not going in.

“It shows the strength of character and the belief this manager has in the quality of his team that we were able to come through those moments.”