TIME FOR UNITED ACTION
Van Gaal’s crisis talks in attempt to save season
LOUIS VAN GAAL has hauled in his Manchester United players for one-to-one meetings in a bid to save their season.
Sixth-placed United face a crucial Manchester derby today with manager van Gaal admitting defeat would all but finish their chances of a top-four finish.
They follow with games against Everton, Tottenham and West Ham in the FA Cup sixth round replay.
The Dutchman knows any slip-ups will further tarnish his tenure at Old Trafford and wants his players to finish the season with a flourish.
He instigated a similar inquest following February’s embarrassing Champions League defeat to FC Midtjylland and was rewarded with a mini revival.
However, a loss to West Brom and Europa League exit at the hands of rivals Liverpool have again rocked the camp.
Every player involved against Liverpool was called into van Gaal’s office on Friday to face the manager i ndividually.
The meetings began at 11.30am and continued throughout the day with each player given around 15 minutes to explain where he thought things were going wrong and what positives could be taken to move forward.
Van Gaal has given the players more input since talks with Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney at Christmas.
There was an acceptance that players abandoned van Gaal’s gameplan in the first leg at Liverpool but improved in the return. Van Gaal hopes the return of Ashley Young will add extra attacking impetus for the run-in while Ander Herrera hopes to quickly shake off a groin injury. Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, meanwhile, is baffled by their inconsistency this season and acknowledges that former glories are no guarantee of being part of Pep Guardiola’s future at the club. City face United today without consecutive Premier League wins
since October, a run that has virtually killed their title chances and has them sweating over a top-four finish.
‘It’s been really frustrating. It’s as if we’ve dug ourselves out of a hole and then put ourselves back in,’ said Hart (left).
‘I can’t put my finger on why. Everybody at the club struggles to explain it.
‘It’s a crazy league but everyone is where they are on merit. The league table might lie after five games but not after 30.’
City will be without their injured skipper Vincent Kompany again this afternoon but Hart refuses to make excuses.
‘We certainly can’t blame what is going on down to injuries,’ he said. ‘I don’t think anyone at City would.’