Tanvir Juneja
Louis Van Gaal is eager to enter the Manchester United record books by guiding the club to a fifth-straight win over Liverpool when the arch-rivals lock horns in the Europa League on Thursday. But is he going to stay at Old Trafford soon after this campaign bites the dust?
As far as his personal staff is concerned, they’re convinced he’ll stay at Manchester United amid doubts over Jose Mourinho’s jobless innuendos directed towards the Red Devils. Van Gaal had been widely expected to be sacked by United this summer – with Jose Mourinho set to replace him at Old Trafford. However, all the speculations that were rife a while back are being put to rest as no official announcement has been made. Furthermore, regardless of whether the Red Devils make the Champions League or not, Van Gaal will remain in charge, according to reports.
It’s claimed though that United are going off the idea of the Special One and could hold out to 2017 when Van Gaal’s contract is up and he will retire before trying to find a potential replacement for the 64-year-old. Not a major shock to LVG, the Dutchman’s inner circle believes he is going nowhere being in the loop over his conversations with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward as well as his dealings with owners, the Glazer family. He is going to stay even though he has come in for plenty of flak this season due to a diminishing title drive at Manchester. Even if he misses top 4, he has his job secured.
Having said that, securing Champions League football for next season tops the priority list of the man with infinite philosophies. The decision of keeping Van Gaal although has faced a lot of stick from his own fans in the wake of United’s limp 1-0 defeat at West Brom at the weekend. In addition, United’s plan has always been for club legend – Ryan Giggs to succeed LVG, who has endorsed his Welsh assistant boss as his natural heir throughout his time at Old Trafford. However, there seems to be a recurring reality-cloud looming over any manager’s career that impacts his style of leadership and management that when things are going poorly for a coach at a certain club, it becomes pretty easy for the rest of the world to dismiss his credentials compared to the last boss at the club. It is that important to hardline certain results and understanding what’s first to a club like Manchester United.
As LVG stays on, will United progress under him in-charge for the third time?
The 2016-17 season would present an overhaul-in-process for LVG to carefully consider as it directly puts him in the same category as coaches who’ve helmed top European clubs for 3 straight seasons which at this point with almost 2 seasons already gone, Van Gaal’s vulnerability to being compared to his competitors increases.
Ultimately, though, it is not Moyes to whom the current incumbent should be compared. Indeed, it is a huge embarrassment to the club, and should be to Van Gaal himself that the comparisons have any merit at all. Whether things are worse currently than they were under Moyes or not, they are clearly not even close to good enough. The sooner the Van Gaal era ends, the better for all concerned.
As far as the statistics and punditry goes there is no denying to the fact that an overturn for the Red Devils’ management is a must provided it is to be hoped that United’s next manager will not be compared with either of his predecessors. Else, the Red Devils’ immediate come-to-terms kind of a story is not to be taken as an infatuation with LVG but a serious long-lasting marriage that contributes to each other’s success stories worldwide.
FAN COMMENTS:
Jonas @StayIceFrosty “This can’t be right, Van Gaal to stay for a third season. Even if Man Utd could win the title this season, i wouldn’t trust him with another.”
The United Stand @UnitedStandMUFC “United keeping Van Gaal for another year is like surviving falling off a cliff & going back up to jump off again. Suicide MUFC”
Chris @dropofchris “So Louis Van Gaal is set to stay at United till the end of his contract. Alright but changes need to be made still.”
Anders @Sly_Mufc “It would be a disaster of extraordinary proportions if Louis Van Gaal is still manager of Man Utd next season. #MOURINHOIN #LVGOUT”
Clearly, the fans look really bemused by the un-sacking of LVG and if he does stick around, they would really look forward to seeing some supernatural changes in the way United shape up in terms of winning games.
As of now, with Champions League qualification at stake – and the chance to collect some silverware in an otherwise desperate campaign – Van Gaal has every reason to take Thursday-night football seriously. Calling out to the fans to ‘stop living in the past’ ahead of the English ‘Clasico’ against Liverpool, he expects them to be in a 75,000 capacity crowd filling out any doubts over ensuring United’s chances going forward with LVG. Spoken like a real boss indeed!
The reality of life beckons at Van Gaal’s door suggesting him to cut down on his philosophies that make Manchester United look like an arrogant club. Instead, don’t even consider it as an elite club, make it the fortress of Europe next season.
