Louis van Gaal isn’t going anywhere.
Well, at least of his own accord.
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Van Gaal, 64, launched a defiant attack on Thursday after media reports claimed he handed in his resignation following the 1-0 home defeat to Southampton last weekend.
The Dutch coach labeled those rumors as “awful and horrible” and when asked if he plans to see out his three-year contract at United -- which lasts until the summer of 2017 -- here’s what he had to say.“Everybody knows I have signed here for three years. I don’t answer any more questions about that because you are making your own stories but I have always said that it is not one game but a process. I want to continue until the end,” Van Gaal said. “I know that the results have not been as good as expected but we are all professionals here.
“It is your duty as a manager and a player to cope with the criticism and stand up again. We are only at halfway – there is still time to improve.”
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United finished fourth last season, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, but were knocked out in the group stage and are stumbling through this season with their lowest-ever points tally (37) after 23 games of a Premier League season. They currently sit in fifth-place in the PL, five points off Tottenham in fourth and 10 points off the top.
This was always going to be a slow rebuilding project but given the fact LVG has spent over $375 million on new players over the last 18 months, surely United should be more entertaining to watch and should be delivering more wins? The fans aren’t impressed as vociferous boos and jeers pouring down from the stands last weekend, with the anger directed at LVG stronger than ever before. Reports continue to say that Van Gaal could leave this summer, a year early, and in December he claimed he would quit if he felt he has lost the support of his players.
Van Gaal’s side play second-tier Derby County on Friday in the FA Cup fourth round. Can this competition give the under-fire coach and his players a chance to rebuild confidence? If they lose, the outcome could see Van Gaal rethink his stance that he wants to remain at Old Trafford for at least another 18 months.