The word from within the corridors of power at OldTrafford is that Manchester United are so happy with Louis van Gaal’s progress at the club that they would like to extend the Dutchman’s contract beyond 2017.
The Glazer family could be forgiven for reviewing that opinion this morning with their team cast out of the Champions League spotlight and into the shadows of the much derided Europa League.
Oh, the pain. The embarrassment. Thursday night football.Quite where this leaves Van Gaal’s much-vaunted ‘process’ is anyone’s guess.
United have not spent nearly £250million in just 17months under him to go out of the Champions League before it got really interesting.
As if their exit was not bad enough, it came in one of theeasiest groups in the competition.
Had Van Gaal been given a pick of group opponents in August, after pre-qualifying with a two-legged victory over Bruges, he could not have done much better than choose PSV Eindhoven, CSKA Moscow and Wolfsburg who, let’s not forget, had never previously qualified for the knockout stages of this competition.Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich they certainly were not.
‘You don’t have an excuse anymore, you have to win, that’s what I’ll tell the players,’ said Van Gaal before kick-off last night. ‘It’s logic.’
And there are no excuses this morning. No hiding place. Yes, United had injuries to seven senior players and saw Matteo Darmian limp off before half-time. Yes, they had a goal by Jesse Lingard contentiously ruled out. They would not have been flattered by a draw or even victory at the Volkswagen Arena.
But their Champions League campaign didn’t founder over 90 minutes here in Lower Saxony, it has been wobbling from the start.
Luke Shaw’s horrific broken leg overshadowed the opening defeat in Eindhoven, but it was a defeat all the same and a damaging one at that.
Van Gaal’s team were then somewhat fortunate to come from behind to beat Wolfsburg in their second game before a draw in Moscow and Wayne Rooney’s late winner at home to CSKA appeared to have put them back on course.
But the implications of an awful stalemate at home to Eindhoven a fortnight ago became clear in Germany last night with Van Gaal’s side needing a win to be sure of going through to the last 16.They couldn’t do it despite taking the lead through Anthony Martial... and now the inquests begin.
They will not be limited to United’s shortcomings in Europe.
Van Gaal’s team have slipped to fourth in a decidedly iffy Premier League and gone out of the Capital One Cup to Middlesbrough.
There are rumblings on the terraces over the stifling football being served up by a club that has entertainment at its very heart and soul. Van Gaal’s style of management is still proving to be no more popular with his players behind the scenes.
Too strict, too regimented, too boring.The 64-year-old insists that he is a communicator not a dictator, but the noises coming out of Carrington tell a different story.
Yet still the powers-that-be are impressed with his leadership. They like Van Gaal’s dominant personality, and his ability to make the big calls swiftly and decisively.
They point to his handling of fellow Dutchman Robin van Persie’s departure from Old Trafford last summer as an example of his strong leadership.There is no doubt that he has brought a presence back to the United dug-out sorely missing when David Moyes replaced Sir Alex Ferguson.
Nor can youquestion his experience or track record. But, make no mistake, there will be questions asked after this. Among the fans, in the dressing-room, maybe even in the boardroom.Given Pep Guardiola’s rumoured preference for United ahead of Manchester City, some supporters will ask why the Glazers would not attempt to at least consider bringing in the Spaniard at some point in the future.
Van Gaal has already stated that he will leave Manchester when his contract runs out in 2017, to honour a promise to his wife Truus. He wants to retire to his ‘paradise’ in Portugal.
United still think he can be persuaded to stay longer. After this, some will ask if it’s really worth the effort. - Daily Mail