Deal for Pep Guardiola, Louis van Gaal slammed, Wayne Rooney reveals all

The results have not been great for Manchester United in recent weeks, and although Kanchelskis believes Van Gaal should stay until the end of the season, he insists the 64-year old is not a Manchester United manager.

Van Gaal, whose side face Stoke City away on Saturday, walked out of his pre-match news conference after five minutes on Wednesday after calling on the assembled media to apologise for their treatment of him.

Van Gaal was writing in the United match programme for the 28 December encounter with Chelsea, whose former manager Jose Mourinho has been linked with his job.

“We’re the players who are out there on the pitch and we haven’t been performing as well as we have done in the past”, the England worldwide added.

“We need to get through this group of games coming up because the last few games haven’t been good enough and sometimes it’s fundamentals and basics of the game that you need to get right”.

“We are working hard, we are fighting with the manager to try and get the results and turn this season around”.

United had a chance to reduce the deficit when Rooney, who replaced Depay at the break, set up Marouane Fellaini, but his shot was tame and Stoke finished the game in relative comfort.

Indeed, while the Red Devils supporters might welcome Rooney’s words and Van Gaal’s defiance, the proof is in the pudding, and a hard trip to the Britannia Stadium on Boxing Day will undoubtedly be a significant test of United’s credibility as a contender for a Champions League place.

“It is unfortunate that Van Gaal found himself batting away false rumours about his sacking and fielding anxious calls from his wife, children and friends. It’s important we all stick together”.

“I try to do everything”, said van Gaal, “but the pressure shall be much higher and higher and we have to solve that problem”.

“Four weeks ago we were first in the Premier League and in about four weeks we could be back in that position”.

“It’s tough, but it’s part of football and part of being a footballer”.

Speculation has been rife all week that Van Gaal will be sacked if he does not start winning matches.

“When it’s not going right it’s frustrating”.