Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has reportedly lost faith in his ability to turn things around at Old Trafford but has been backed by executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
According to Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail, the Dutch boss does not feel he can do any more to steady the ship at United following a run of four consecutive defeats. It puts Van Gaal in a hugely precarious position ahead of Monday’s clash against Chelsea, with the Red Devils seeking to end a horrendous run of form.
Ladyman noted a downbeat Van Gaal was encouraged not to step aside by Woodward following the 2-0 defeat to Stoke City on Boxing Day, but his tenure at Old Trafford seems to be quickly edging closer to an inevitable end:
Quote:Their conversation came on the back of an initial phone chat last week, with Woodward telling Van Gaal to forget any thoughts about throwing in the towel.
This is what prompted Van Gaal's demands for an apology from the media for their coverage of his predicament at last Wednesday's short-lived press conference and, indeed, his peculiar and unprompted comments about quitting after the Stoke defeat.
However, that bullishness cannot hide the fact that one of modern football's most decorated and respected managers has all but lost faith in his ability to turn things round in what he has admitted will be the last job of his long career.
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According to Ladyman, sources have stated Van Gaal “thinks his players' belief is shot and that he doesn't give them much chance of winning on Monday.” United go into the game against the toiling champions down in sixth position in the league table, nine points behind leaders Leicester City.
They’re peculiar circumstances, especially for a club as grand as Manchester United. Indeed, despite Chelsea’s own troubles, it seems as though few are expecting three points for the home side in this one. As we can see here, courtesy of OptaJoe (h/t BBC 5 Live Sport), Van Gaal’s team are in some of the worst form in the club's history:
The Dutchman admitted in the wake of the loss on Boxing Day that he’s unsure whether his players remain behind him. “That is now the big issue,” he said, per David McDonnell of the Daily Mirror. “I have tried to do everything but the pressure shall be higher and higher with every match. That is the problem now.”
For a club of United's gravitas, it’s peculiar to have a member of the hierarchy pleading with a manager to stay on in his job.
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Woodward has reportedly encouraged Van Gaal to stay on.
Granted, with so many games to come, this time of the year wouldn’t be ideal to change managers, but it now seems inevitable Van Gaal will leave his post at Old Trafford. Postponing this outcome will only make the job of the new man, whoever that may be, more difficult when he does come in.
Daniel Harris of the Guardian offered his take on why Woodward, despite this apparent unrest behind the scenes, is hoping Van Gaal stays on:
All eyes will be on the dugout on Monday as Van Gaal makes that iconic walk from the Old Trafford tunnel to his seat for the game. It’s a walk that has become increasingly difficult for the Dutchman to make after some rancid showings from the Red Devils and a route he may be treading for the final time if United suffer a fifth straight loss.
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Van Gaal has had some positive influence during his time at United, and when he does depart, he will leave a squad that, despite being imbalanced, has a lot of potential. But the most recent months of his Old Trafford tenure have reeked of a former managerial great who has been left behind by the express pace of modern football’s progression.
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