Once again Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United failed to deliver when it mattered and even the more faithful among his fans at Old Trafford must now be finding it difficult to envisage him seeing out his 3 year contract at the club.
Manchester United legends Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand were in the BT Sport studio and gave these assessments.
“There was no urgency, threat or quality,”
“United are just an average team and with an average team you get average performances. You have to say they have not bought as well as they could have done. If you are relying on a 20-year-old kid [Martial], it’s just not right.”
Scholes: Not Happy
“They didn’t deserve to qualify,”
“You expect Man United to walk through. When you think of the money they have spent you can understand the fans’ frustrations. The pressure is growing on Louis van Gaal now.”
Michael Owen, who is also becoming a decent pundit, had this to say about the performance:
I think he [Van Gaal] is under severe pressure now. His position in the league is keeping him afloat but there must be huge questions.”
The boss himself had this to say:
“I cannot defend myself because we are out of the Champions League.”
“When you see the facts – we went further in the Capital One Cup, qualified for the Champions League group, we have played all these matches and are still in a very good position in the league,” he said.
“The facts say we are better than last year.
“I’m also disappointed that we are out of the Champions League.”
Now, in the third season since Sir Alex left the club, Manchester United’s trajectory seems alarmingly similar to that of Liverpool after their heyday in the 70s and 80s. Then, as now, it was a case of mis spent money and slipping standards under Graeme Souness and his successors.
Manchester United need a visionary at the helm. A young man with hunger, drive and nous. Someone with a modern outlook on the game who simply wants to attack.
For our money, the best solutions are Diego Simeone or a job share between Gary Neville (head honcho), Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes (right and left hand men).
Manchester United fans: time for a change?
