Louis van Gaal was selected as manager because of his exploits at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
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Juan Mata says Manchester United “have to do better” for the fans following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Norwich City.
United’s transfer dealings in the summer may have added Martial to the forward ranks but, bizarrely, Van Gaal was happy to let Javier Hernandez and James Wilson leave.
The Red Devils face a testing festive period, starting on Boxing Day against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium, before they host Chelsea at Old Trafford two days later.
The players are said to have lost faith in Van Gaal and his methods, despite pledging public support for their beleaguered boss.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal walks off dejected after the game against Norwich at Old Trafford, December 19, 2015. When nothing goes their way, they still try to hoof it up to Fellaini, and hope his world class chest control can bring others into the game. Robbie Brady said: “I’m not sure if they’ve been beaten at home this season”.
Having finished seventh in 2013-14, United rose to fourth last season under Van Gaal, regaining a place in the Champions League.
Van Gaal even suggested he may have lost some of his coaching prowess, given United’s recent malaise.
Mourinho has won three Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge, whilst the Blues legend has also won top-flight crowns in Portugal, Italy and Spain, as well as winning the Champions League twice. Has Mourinho’s sacking rattled him more than he would like to admit?
Mourinho spent Saturday watching Middlesbrough’s 3-0 Championship win at Brighton, before returning to London yesterday to attend the wedding of his former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard to television presenter Christine Bleakley. The fans are expecting that we win and we expect the same. We have to stick together now and come out of this bad period, but you have seen this is not so easy.
“We have to show our professional attitude to improve and to come back into our confidence zone”.
But, according to the Daily Mail, United bosses are anxious that the Dutchman is starting to lose the players as well as the fans who are demanding more attacking football.
Ferguson and director Sir Bobby Charlton were known to have doubts about Mourinho, but they will have only a minor say in who succeeds Van Gaal should he be axed.
Perhaps most damning regarding this latest abject display is that there is no surprise.
And: Chelsea have been in talks with Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone for the past month after targeting the Argentinian as Jose Mourinho’s successor.
“Of course I am anxious”, he said. “But that is what I believe and maybe in this matter that is not so interesting”.
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“For me, it is just about trying to get as many points as I can for my team to get us safe”. Anthony Martial scored a good goal and after that we created chances but it was too late in the game. A turnover in possession resulted in Nathan Redmond finding acres of space between De Gea and the last Manchester United defender.
