The former Real Madrid manager had been linked with a number of clubs since leaving Chelsea, from the Chinese Super League to the Premier League, but appears set on returning to England.
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But after United goalkeeper De Gea had saved from Branislav Ivanovic and Cesc Fabregas, Costa equalised in stoppage time when he gathered Fabregas’s pass, rounded De Gea and slotted home. “Maybe I can say that you are getting the sack tomorrow”.
But it’s understood the club are not now considering changing the management structure to incorporate a director of football even if Louis van Gaal leaves his post before the end of his contract in 2017.
Later, as the media conference was coming to a conclusion, the name of Sir Alex Ferguson, who was present at Stamford Bridge, was brought up, as Diego Costa scored in “Fergie time”.
Van Gaal will be pleased with the overall application of his players, but as David Moyes was removed as manager when he failed to qualify for Europe’s top competition, there’s every chance the Dutchman could suffer a similar fate. “You have to study… study statistics”. It was three hard points, but three very important points for us because we had not won for a while.
Following Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a reporter brought up the scenario to which van Gaal reacted strongly. The build-up involved interplay between Juan Mata and Anthony Martial.
The young Englishman then beat him by taking down a cross from Cameron Borthwick-Jackson with one touch and shooting high into the net with his second.
Jose Mourinho has also been touted as a possible successor for Van Gaal at United in recent days.
“The equaliser we conceded is also defensive organisation, you have to be composed and then you can play them out, not kicking the ball away”.
On the south-coast, though, Arsenal emerged from its January slump.
Arsenal’s midfielder Mesut Ozil (L) scores his team’s first goal during an English Premier League football match against Bournemouth.
Yet the failures of the autumn and winter months, when they dropped points at will to the likes of Crystal Palace, West Ham, Norwich, Bournemouth and Stoke have left United playing an unenviable game of catch-up.
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Arsenal moved behind second-place north London rival Tottenham on goal difference.
