Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal blames ‘wind’ and ‘pressure’ for defeat

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal welcomes Chelsea to Old Trafford on Monday evening with many expecting the result to be decisive for his future.

United were beaten 2-0 at Stoke City – their fourth consecutive loss in all competitions and are now nine points behind leaders, Leicester City.

Van Gaal is under mounting pressure after United lost four games in a row for the first time in a single season since 1961.

The Dutchman, under pressure after seven games without a victory, was asked at his post-match news conference whether he feared he would be sacked. That is something I speak to [executive vice-chairman] Ed Woodward about by himself – not with you.

Under-fire manager Van Gaal has revealed how club captain Wayne Rooney reacted to starting on the bench in the 2-0 defeat to Stoke.

“No because I can also quit by myself”.

Chelsea dispensed with their own manager last week, Jose Mourinho paying the price for a calamitous start to the season, and the Portuguese is the favourite to take over at United in the event that Van Gaal departs. Have your say in the comments section below.

“It is very hard to do that in just two days but we shall try”, van Gaal, who coached the Netherlands to bronze medal at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, said.

Bojan Krkic of Stoke City scores the opening goal past Chris Smalling and Phil Jones of Manchester United on Saturday in their Premier League contest.

“Ryan will make a good manager in a few years and I’m sure his teams would be inclined to play offensive football”.

“My thoughts are that we don’t dare to play football in the first half and then we gave a very bad goal away”, he added.

“I tried to do everything but the pressure every match will be higher and higher”, Van Gaal told Sky Sports after the game on Saturday.

A day after British astronaut Tim Peake displayed a Stoke flag on the International Space Station, the central England team was in a different orbit to United in the first half. You don’t understand my message.

Louis van Gaal may have given his biggest hint yet that he is willing to part company with Manchester United.

The United manager admitted it would be hard to lift his players for Monday’s home game against Chelsea – a match he desperately needs to win.