Mourinho says he will be back soon

The pressure on van Gaal has intensified since United suffered an embarrassing exit from the Champions League at the group stage. It’s what you do with possession.

“When your aim is to be third or second or first then you need to win because the gap is already big”, Van Gaal told Sky Sports.

He added: “Tomorrow we know more, but if you have this injury – and everyone has seen how bad it is – hyper-extension is always bad. We try our best in every game and in the last three or four I thought we played really well”.

A Michael Carrick shot extended Thibaut Courtois before Anthony Martial cut in from the left, shot viciously across goal, only for the goalkeeper to save smartly.

United were particularly adventurous down the flanks, with full-backs Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Matteo Darmian providing width and the former getting forward to set up Lingard’s opener. Although the “Special One” did not specifically mention the United job, he did state that he is calm and ready to come back to work.

United boss Van Gaal was visibly disappointed after his side dropped two points and he questioned the decision from the referee to play six minutes of stoppage time.

Jesse Lingaard scored a fine goal for the visitors after an hour’s play but in the first minute of added time Costa coolly beat Spain team mate David De Gea to snatch a draw for a side unbeaten since Hiddink returned as interim manager in December.

United went into the weekend five points below the Champions League places in fifth place. One point of contention is a missed handball by United’s Daley Blind that should have been called for a Chelsea penalty.

Manchester United have been beaten by the Blues more times than any other club in the Premier League era (16 losses). Their neighbours, Manchester United, not so.

“For me there’s been a lack of spark and this is coming from either the manager or the players, they have to lift themselves and try to reach the goal which is to give pleasure to the fans and win trophies”. Considering that, we’ve had too many draws to get fourth place.

“I don’t think that is fair”.

“We have the feeling, and that’s because we are winning twice in a row and with sparkling football”.

“Maybe I have another No. 10 who is better than Mata” which seems to be a statement to keep Mata on his toes in case he thinks about slacking off during matches. “If you don’t react, if you believe that just because you won in one year that you are going to win again, it’s very hard”.