Van Gaal: Top four ‘hard’ for United now, but pressure no greater

Express Sport understands United have already contacted Jose Mourinho about replacing Van Gaal this summer.

Louis van Gaal conceded that Manchester United may need to win the Europa League to qualify for next season’s Champions League after a 2-1 defeat at Sunderland on Saturday.

Louis van Gaal explains Manchester United would be satisfied if they secured a top four spot this season.

And he said the potentially crucial three points at the Stadium of Light shows his squad is “good enough” for the battle to stay in the Premier League.

Van Gaal was appointed David Moyes’ replacement in the summer of 2014, but despite a transfer outlay in the region of £250 million, the club could miss out on Champions League qualification this season.

On Valentine’s weekend it was appropriate that Manchester United gave a league debut to their young Scottish defender Donald Love.

“I’m under no more pressure”, he said. He lasted very well for us. Now it’s very hard to do that. It’s still possible, but it’s very hard.

“It’s a competition we didn’t necessarily want to be in, but we are and we want to win it. Every game is a big game for us and we have to start again on Thursday”. That’s our aim, the minimum requirement for a club like this. “You can not close your eyes to that”.

United looked uncomfortable against a high-pressing home side and suffered another blow when Matteo Darmian went off with a shoulder injury, but Anthony Martial snatched an equaliser just before half-time.

Today we have the 26 match day of the Barclays premier league and the first match today will be played between Manchester united and Sunderland. Handing him all that money to buy players with and they can’t even achieve a top four finish is unacceptable.

Were you let down by your players?

“It is a question of the board of Manchester United, you have to put that question to them”. But we’re working together, pulling at the same string.

Van Gaal insists he has no problem with United’s failure to back him publicly.

The seeds of Sunderland’s first victory in five games were sown in the January transfer market.