Champions League: Van Gaal realistic about United's chances

Manchester United will be looking for the goals that have been so hard to come by this season when they travel to VfL Wolfsburg on Tuesday with their hopes of sealing qualification for the Champions League knockout stage still hanging in the balance.

All the talk among United supporters -- raised on a tradition of exciting, uninhibited attacking football -- is of the team's lack of goals under what they believe to be manager Louis van Gaal's sterile conservative approach.

Since winning 2-1 at home to Wolfsburg in September, United have scored only twice in three Champions League games. In the Premier League the record is five goals in the last six games.

United captain Wayne Rooney, who missed Saturday's goalless draw at home to West Ham with an ankle injury, will again be absent, but like Memphis Depay he has scored only two league goals this season. Anthony Martial, the young French prodigy has three and midfielder Juan Mata is top scorer with five.

United supporters have taken to chanting "attack, attack, attack" in almost every game and they will need goals on Tuesday with the team second in Group B on eight points, one behind leaders Wolfsburg with PSV Eindhoven, playing CSKA Moscow, on seven.

But manager Van Gaal is insistent the problem will not last.

"The goals are coming, that is my strong belief," he said after two points dropped against West Ham United left them fourth in the table.

"We created a lot of chances but to score you need not only composure but a lot of luck. So I'm not worried."

He did admit, however, that winning the Champions League is not realistic this season, adding: "Maybe next year, when we strengthen our selection again."

Even with injuries to a number of other players, Van Gaal believes he can rely on his defence in Germany. With England's Chris Smalling in outstanding form, they have kept seven clean sheets in nine games.

Van Gaal's team have found goals hard to come by this season and their often listless displays have drawn the ire of their fans, but the Dutchman is counting on Schweinsteiger to guide his team through a tricky tie in Germany.

"The reason why we have bought Schweinsteiger is that he is a player who can lead or guide a team. That is important -- not only his football qualities -- but that he can lead and guide a team on the pitch," Van Gaal said, quoted by the club website (www.manutd.com).

"I believe that every match that he plays he can play better because until now we have not seen the best Schweinsteiger that I have seen at Bayern Munich, but he can guide the team."

Since qualifying for the Champions League via a playoff against Club Bruges, United have scored five goals in five games in the competition,

For Wolfsburg, even a draw will be enough to secure a spot in the next round.

While their rocky domestic form has seen last season's Bundesliga runners-up slip to fifth after a 2-1 last-gasp defeat by Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, Dieter Hecking's team are top of Group B after a 2-0 win at CSKA Moscow.

They are now looking to continue their fine home form, having won twice without conceding.

For attacking midfielder Julian Draxler, beating United is not impossible.

"If we play against them as we did in the second half against Dortmund then I am certain we can beat United," he said.