Juan Mata feels the frustration after Manchester United’s defeat to Southampton

The report also claims that more talks are planned between the pair on Tuesday, when Van Gaal returns to Manchester, and that Alex Ferguson has no indication of Woodward’s intentions.

Mata says Friday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at Derby offers United a chance of redemption and says the players will do their best to grab it.

He said United fans were “right to boo” and that he was disappointed he could not fulfil their expectations.

The Red Devils, whose style of play has been under scrutiny this campaign, had just one shot on target during the defeat.

With United five points from the Champions League places, the club will fear being unable to bank tens of millions of pounds from the UEFA competition next season.

United are in desperate need of a lift to prevent their season disintegrating even further, but van Gaal could give no guarantees that it may come via a move into the January transfer market.

The Southampton defeat also saw United fail to score in the first half for an 11th-consecutive home games, with the half-time and full-time whistles met with a furious reaction from the Old Trafford faithful.

Fans booed van Gaal as he left the field at halftime and after the game at Old Trafford.

“Everyone there is working extremely hard to turn that round”.

Van Gaal who has often cited fans’ backing as a prime factor in his hunger for the job has become increasingly disenchanted with his turbulent tenure at Old Trafford. Yet Mourinho’s availability only serves to increase the pressure on Van Gaal, as do the comments of United’s non-executive director, David Gill.

The ESPN FC panel debate if Ryan Giggs is capable of taking over if Van Gaal were to leave before the end of the season.

However, it remains to be seen whether he has the stomach to continue to fight at United, with an increasing majority of the club’s supporters clearly keen for him to go now.