I may sack myself, says Van Gaal

Dutchman Van Gaal has overseen a seven-match winless run in which United have been eliminated from the Champions League and fallen out of the Premier League’s top four.

Van Gaal is concerned about the short gap between the Stoke game and the match against the Blues, who themselves have endured a torrid season which culminated in the replacement of Jose Mourinho by Guus Hiddink.

“It is not always the club that has to fire or sack me”.

Mourinho’s availability has brought Van Gaal’s future into even sharper focus, although United, up until this loss, had hoped to hold off until next summer before making a decision over whether to change their manager.

He will replace Louis Van Gaal should the Manchester United board dismiss the Dutch tactician or he (Van Gaal) leaves at the end of his contract with the club (Manchester United).

It’s been a miserable season for Manchester United’s under-performing players who were defeated by Stoke City on Saturday.

“The scrutiny is alright for me, I am used to that”, the United manager said. “I am not so interested in public talking”. We have spoken with each other and I have to say the second half was much better, we created one or two chances and you have to score.

Van Gaal’s comments and demeanour suggest his stay at Old Trafford is reaching an endgame after barely 18 months in charge.

Speaking to Sky Sports immediately after the match, Van Gaal said: “My thoughts are that we don’t dare to play football in first half”.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa will miss Monday’s clash with Manchester United through suspension after picking up a booking during the champions’ clash with Watford at Stamford Bridge.

The fans have voiced their anger at Van Gaal and the proud Dutchman has also let his exasperation show in a very obvious manner at his recent press conferences. “Sometimes I do it by myself”, he said. It’s hard to take and we are not playing well enough as a team and that has to be looked at.

“It’s more hard, people are looking at me, I have to deal with that, the players have to deal with that. I’m sure there will be many meetings going on”.

“That’s a period all players, not just him, have to overcome, and I think they need time for that”. “On another day, we could have scored another goal or two so that is the only slight disappointment from today”.