Louis van Gaal admits ‘sad’ Manchester United unlikely to make top four

However, Van Gaal is convinced a consistent run in United’s team will see one of Germany’s most decorated players rediscover his best form.

Louis van Gaal dismissed suggestions that his side’s 2-1 Premier League defeat at Sunderland on Saturday has put him under even more pressure as Manchester United manager.

The Scotsman told Sky Sports’ Goals on Sunday show that current United manager Louis van Gaal is facing a similar scenario to keep his job.

“I don’t think Man United are any further forward now to what they were when he [Van Gaal] took over”, Shearer said on Match of the Day this weekend.

There have been plenty of rumors around about Jose joining Manchester United at the end of this season but Van Gaal refuses to believe these reports.

The Express says that United playmaker Juan Mata will be offloaded in the summer should the Portuguese get the job.

But it was Sunderland who would pocket the three points after Martial’s attempt to clear Lamine Kone’s 82nd-minute header of the line hit goalkeeper David De Gea and rolled into the net.

The victory boosted second-from-bottom Sunderland’s survival hopes and left United looking down rather than up as Southampton closed to within a point of them in sixth after Shane Long’s goal sealed a 1-0 win at Swansea City. We want to be there and now it shall be very hard.

Asked if he had spoken to Mourinho to clarify the situation, Van Gaal said: ‘No.

“I think what I said before the game, you have to win these kind of games and we didn’t and we can only blame ourselves”, he added.

“(The defeat) is of course a big blow.

“I said we have to win that match because we have to be in the race for the top four positions in the league. They are still a very good team, but, they are not challenging where they want to be in the table, that’s for sure”. It’s down to us, we’re players and we have to perform.