COMMENT: The Dutchman oversaw yet another defeat on Boxing Day, as the Red Devils were beaten 2-0 by Stoke City, but can the Red Devils take the gamble of axing the 64-year-old?
Louis van Gaal is fast running out of allies as he attempts to hold onto his job as Manchester United manager, and the 2-0 loss to Stoke City on Saturday leaves him on the verge of the sack in many supporters’ minds.
Four defeats on the trot and no wins in seven would be enough to see the backs of most managers at high-profile clubs across the world.
Yet circumstances might well save him, with United’s decision-makers potentially split over which possible successor they least want to shun as they choose between one of club management’s big-hitters and the most storied player in Manchester United history.
Strong opinion around the game suggests United should fire Van Gaal and replace him with Jose Mourinho, who has insisted he is after a quick return to the game following his dismissal from Chelsea, but the original plan for the Red Devils was to hand the power to Ryan Giggs following the Dutchman’s spell.
If they decide that Van Gaal should go, then they are caught between a rock and a hard place. Do they perform a climb-down on Sir Bobby Charlton’s previous comments that Mourinho “is a good manager, but not a United manager” in reference to some of his more edgy off-field antics?
Or do they pass up the chance to take the Portuguese on in favour of backing the Welshman, despite the almost inevitable criticism that will come their way the moment things take a turn for the worse under Giggs if they have said no to Mourinho?
Van Gaal is now living on borrowed time, but with the successor to his throne still to be clearly decided he may well be given a little bit longer to try to turn around United’s ailing fortunes. Watch Goal correspondent Kris Voakes's reaction below!
Louis van Gaal is fast running out of allies as he attempts to hold onto his job as Manchester United manager, and the 2-0 loss to Stoke City on Saturday leaves him on the verge of the sack in many supporters’ minds.
Four defeats on the trot and no wins in seven would be enough to see the backs of most managers at high-profile clubs across the world.
Yet circumstances might well save him, with United’s decision-makers potentially split over which possible successor they least want to shun as they choose between one of club management’s big-hitters and the most storied player in Manchester United history.
Strong opinion around the game suggests United should fire Van Gaal and replace him with Jose Mourinho, who has insisted he is after a quick return to the game following his dismissal from Chelsea, but the original plan for the Red Devils was to hand the power to Ryan Giggs following the Dutchman’s spell.
If they decide that Van Gaal should go, then they are caught between a rock and a hard place. Do they perform a climb-down on Sir Bobby Charlton’s previous comments that Mourinho “is a good manager, but not a United manager” in reference to some of his more edgy off-field antics?
Or do they pass up the chance to take the Portuguese on in favour of backing the Welshman, despite the almost inevitable criticism that will come their way the moment things take a turn for the worse under Giggs if they have said no to Mourinho?
Van Gaal is now living on borrowed time, but with the successor to his throne still to be clearly decided he may well be given a little bit longer to try to turn around United’s ailing fortunes. Watch Goal correspondent Kris Voakes's reaction below!
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