Van Gaal admits defeat could see the axe fall
LOUIS VAN GAAL admits Manchester United must beat Shrewsbury tonight as he fights to save his job, warning his players that they ‘cannot continue losing’. A third defeat in a row when Van Gaal’s side visit the League One strugglers in the FA Cup would put United chief Ed Woodward under huge pressure to make a change amid a growing crisis at Old Trafford.
Woodward has shown remarkable loyalty and patience towards the Dutchman, mindful that he does not want to dismiss another manager in mid-season.
But after seeing United beaten by Premier League relegation candidates Sunderland and then Danish minnows Midtjylland in the Europa League, defeat by Shrewsbury would test even Woodward’s resolve.
Van Gaal acknowledged as much as he challenged his players to save their season — and his job.
He said: ‘You cannot continue with losing games. You have to see every match as a match you have to win. On Monday we have to win. If we win, we are in the next round and we are capable of winning the FA Cup.
‘The question is how we lift ourselves for this game because Shrewsbury will fight for the second balls and play direct and those kind of things, and you have to cope.’
Tonight’s fifth-round tie kicks off a crucial week for Van Gaal that could effectively see United’s season brought to a premature end. On Thursday, they face Midtjylland again at Old Trafford looking to overcome a 2-1 deficit from the first leg in Denmark.
And on Sunday, Van Gaal’s side will try to make up ground on the top four when they play at home to Arsenal.
United are six points behind fourth-placed Manchester City and have little margin for error with 12 league games remaining.
It is significant that Woodward sacked David Moyes in April 2014 as soon as it became impossible for Van Gaal’s predecessor to qualify for the Champions League.
A close friend of Jose Mourinho, Inter Milan director Bedy Moratti, has revealed that the former Chelsea manager told her he is joining United this summer.
Ryan Giggs would be the man most likely to be asked to take over on a temporary basis if Van Gaal is sacked before the end of the season.
However, Giggs is unsure about a second stint as caretaker if there is no prospect of landing the job on a permanent basis, and is also reluctant to work as a No 2 again.
Van Gaal accepts that other teams no longer fear United like they used to, adding: ‘When you see the last two games it is maybe like that — but then we have to make them fear again.’