Van Gaal’s exit is the talk of the dressing room
Just how long can this farce drag on at Old Trafford?
LOUIS VAN GAAL’s lame-duck tenure is now the talk of Manchester United’s dressing room, with senior players keen to be given clarification over his future.
One dressing-room source said: ‘The group are wondering what is next — they’re even asking people around the club what is going to happen.’
Van Gaal has the biggest week of his turbulent reign ahead of him, with three huge games in seven days. He will give executive vicechairman Ed Woodward no choice but to sack him if they suffer more embarrassing defeats before the month is out.
Constant noise about the Dutchman’s prospects has unsettled his squad and they have been left wondering how long he will remain in charge. Jose Mourinho has always wanted the job and is ready to answer the call when a firm proposal arises.
Inter Milan have also been linked with the Portuguese but yesterday the sister of the club’s former president Massimo Moratti let the cat out of the bag on Mourinho’s future. Asked at a lunch whether Inter missed their former manager, Bedy Moratti replied: ‘He’s missed as a person, but right now he’s happy, he’s going to Manchester.’
An early exit in the FA Cup tomorrow night at lowly League One Shrewsbury Town would ramp up the pressure on Van Gaal before they try to squeeze past minnows Midtjylland at Old Trafford in the Europa League on Thursday.
United supporters were apoplectic over their Europa League defeat in Denmark last week and will vote with their feet for the return leg, the top tier of the Alex Ferguson stand closed due to lack of demand.
Then comes a clash with old foes Arsenal a week today – a loss would put another nail in the coffin of Champions League qualification.
Van Gaal’s position would be untenable if United go out of the FA Cup and Europa League this week against seemingly inferior opposition. Fans argue his performance has been inferior since a run of eight matches without a win in December.
Woodward stuck by his man then, even after a swell of pressure from inside the club. The 2-0 loss at Stoke on Boxing Day had looked set to seal his fate but the axe did not fall.
Woodward also refused to make a snap decision following Thursday night’s humiliation and Van Gaal’s admission that disgruntled travel- ling fans were correct to sing expletive-laden songs at the players.
The truth is that the United board is split over whether to dispense with the manager early or allow him to see out his three-year contract.
They are watching a team outfought twice in six days, first by Sunderland and then Midtjylland. One Danish newspaper wrote: ‘It looked like Anthony Martial could do whatever he wanted. But luckily for Midtjylland, he didn’t really want to do much.’
Michael Carrick admitted there were ‘no excuses’ and that United ‘were not good enough’ as they lurch from one setback to the next.
Woodward, however, does not want another failed appointment on his c.v. having also brought in David Moyes after Ferguson’s retirement.
Mourinho has made no secret of his desire for the United job, although he has refused to speak openly about taking over since Chelsea sacked him in December.
He was at the San Siro to watch Inter take on Sampdoria in Serie A last night and claimed on Friday: ‘I don’t search for clubs – clubs search for me.’
Mourinho has never joined a club in mid-season and would be loath to at United, knowing that does not represent his best chance of hitting the ground running.