Louis Van Gaal: I could quit Manchester United

“Do you think that I want to talk with the media now?”

Whichever team takes to the field in the 5.30pm kick-off, van Gaal wants them to believe in the philosophy he has implemented since taking the reins at Old Trafford. Jose Mourinho has let it be known he is available for work following his sacking by Chelsea.

Asked if was the man to motivate the player’s, Van Gaal said: “That is now the big issue, I have tried to do everything but the pressure shall be higher and higher with every match”.

Bookies Paddy Power are now paying out for the Dutchman to be the next Premier League boss sacked after losing his last four games for the club.

Van Gaal did admit there was a “new situation” compared to Wednesday, when he said he had received supportive phone calls from executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, his predecessor David Gill and former manager Sir Alex Ferguson. “It is not like that in the football world”. “Sometimes I do that by myself…”

Stoke added the scalp of United to recent home victories over Chelsea and Manchester City, although results elsewhere meant that they remained in 11th place in the Premier League table. But if van Gaal does get sacked, who could the club look to as a replacement?

“That hurts us a lot because that is not the type of people we are”.

“I have analysed that as a outcome of the pressure that you have to cope with as a group as an individual player”.

“But much more important is that the players have to deal with that because they have to perform”.

“I am not so interested in public announcements”.

“Then you have to manage that you are very confident to start the Chelsea game, and that you dare to play football – our football”.

Giggs cut a forlorn figure as he sat on the sidelines next to van Gaal as United crashed to their fourth league defeat on the trot, the first time since the early 1960s.

But vice-captain Michael Carrick feels the quick turnaround between games may benefit United, for whom the pain of the Stoke loss is a lasting one. That may well now change.

The Dutch manager said that he does not see himself as a bad coach and that he has been working hard with the squad, but it has failed to translate onto the pitch.

“It’s Manchester United we are playing for, it’s a special club and it’s a privilege to play”.