Manchester United defender Chris Smalling feels that a strong and confident start could be the key to overcoming ShrewsburyTown in the Emirates FA Cup on Monday.
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Pressure is on Louis van Gaal after Manchester United crashed to their 11th defeat of the season in all competitions during the week.
Next up for Van Gaal’s sorry bunch is a trip to central English market town Shrewsbury where the third-tier team looks to pile on the misery for United in the FA Cup fifth round on Monday.
“I don’t think Manchester United should become a sacking club”, Moyes said on BBC Radio 5 live, while covering the Bournemouth-Everton game.
The latter game in particular highlighted how United – for so long seen both domestically and overseas as among the most daunting opponents a club could face – no longer seem to be perceived by anyone as an intimidating prospect.
“And we have cars or planes all laid on ready to whisk him away after the Shrewsbury game if the worse happens to him”.
Writing in The Telegraph, he said: “Apart from the goalkeeper, I can’t see any world-class players and if David De Gea decides to up sticks this summer then they will be in a right mess”.
“Of course it’s a huge game”.
Mourinho is expected to be at Inter’s match with Sampdoria on Saturday night but said: “I go for a day to personally say thanks to my president Mister Moratti”.
“They’ve stuck with us and travelled to support us, so I can only apologise”.
“There were several moments this year that they didn’t play well and the results were bad as well”.
Thursday will have done nothing to boost confidence on that front, though, as the scrutiny on Van Gaal’s position – and talk he could soon be replaced by Jose Mourinho – continues to grow. “I hope so because then it’s a benefit for us”.
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Local paper Manchester Evening News made a decision to bare its teeth, taking the bold step of calling for Van Gaal to be fired on its back page on Friday. I just know that I love football and I will be back with the same passion and ambition as ever, having during this period a respectful behaviour to every manager and every club.
