When asked whether he thought he would be in charge for Tuesday morning’s (AEDT) Premier League game against Chelsea, Van Gaal offered only a meek response.
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Do not be fooled by the 2-0 scoreline. United lacked all three of these qualities throughout the match.
If United’s players were fighting to save their manager’s job, they didn’t demonstrate it. The response lacked any burning desire to end this United slump.
They scored from a free-kick and then it was half-time.
But Marouane Fellaini wasted their best chance when he shot straight at Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland from close range. But Arsenal had a chance to usurp Leicester by beating Southampton in the late game. There was a moment where Geoff Cameron of Stoke City kicked the ball into Daley Blind’s face, which caused him to be temporarily dizzy. The Spaniard was doing little to justify his place in the starting XI and gave the ball away twice in the opening 15 minutes.
Leicester City’s Danny Simpson, left, fights for the ball against Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Leicester City at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015. That it came about because of an embarrassing gaffe from a United player came as no shock either.
Memphis Depay’s diving backward header allowed Bojan Krkic to put Stoke in front and Marko Arnautovic powered in a second goal from outside the penalty area. Ashley Young flung his right hand up in the air to block Arnautovic’s cross.
Van Gaal looked on despondently.
Van Gaal’s comments and demeanor suggest his stay at Old Trafford is reaching an endgame after barely 18 months in charge.
“He lost the players a few weeks ago and he’s lost the majority of the fans now”. The Potters were toying with United.
“There is a demand on Everton to go forward, be progressive and have a go so that may well play into our hands, hopefully”. He wanted to inflict a real hammering on his old employers.
In the closing minutes, Rooney this time set up Juan Mata but again Butland made the vital save. There was no way back for the visitors.
While refusing to confirm or deny whether he has received assurances from the United board, he did state: “I have said already in former press conferences that it is not always that the club has to fire or sack me”.
Mark Hughes wants Marko Arnautovic to pull the trigger with more regularity following his stunning strike against Manchester United.
Van Gaal’s position looks more precarious than ever thanks to this defeat.
Was it the last match coached by Dutch Louis van Gaal? There was a plethora of top-quality global players on the pitch at Stoke, but none of them performed.
Rooney witnessed those goals from the bench as Ander Herrera replaced him for tactical reasons.
But vice-captain Michael Carrick feels the quick turnaround between games may benefit United, for whom the pain of the Stoke loss is a lasting one.
“That is in my opinion the reason they don’t dare to play football (in the first half)”. Then the belief is coming back and we played better in the second half, but the problem is we didn’t dare to play.
“The circumstances now play a bigger role and will in the next game also”.
“It’s more hard because I am now part of the four matches we have lost and people are looking at me”.
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On his future he added: “It’s another situation”.
