Van Gaal hints on Man United exit

“I think I was already reading I had been sacked”, he continued, referring to mounting speculation that Jose Mourinho, sacked by champions Chelsea last Thursday, was poised to replace him in the United hot seat.

Manchester United Coach Louis Van Gaal may turn out to be the next high profile labour casualty in the English Premier as the Dutch tactician again watched his side crumble to yet another defeat this season on Saturday.

But it was in his post-match press conference that the former Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Holland manager was cryptic when asked if had considered quitting as United boss. “But I feel the support of everybody in the club”.

Van Gaal, 64, said that was something he would discuss with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and not the media. “I’m not so interested in public sayings because of the saying [Do not say it for the sake of saying it]”.

“The club doesn’t have to fire or sack me – sometimes I do it by myself”.

“I am part of the four losses”, he said.

A day after British astronaut Tim Peake displayed a Stoke flag on the International Space Station, the central England team was in a different orbit to United in the first half.

Louis van Gaal has urged Manchester United to “dare to play football” when they host Chelsea in what could prove a pivotal game in the manager’s Old Trafford career. “We have lost a fourth game, so we have to wait and see”.

“Certainly first half I thought we were excellent and it would have taken a very good team to stay with us”.

“You can single anyone out in this situation as a club, a group of players, staff, manager – we have to stick together an football matches”.

It is United’s worst run of results since an eight-game winless streak between December 1989 and January 1990, which could cost Van Gaal his job 18 months after his appointment as the successor to David Moyes.

Van Gaal looked powerless as he clutched his notes while sitting uneasily on the bench next to assistant Ryan Giggs.

And Van Gaal accused his side of lacking courage in the opening 45 minutes, while defending his decision not to start Rooney.

“It was another tremendous performance from us, and at key times a very professional one, I would suggest”, he said.

“We were better in the second half but then we didn’t have anything to lose”.