Van Gaal On His Man Utd Future

However, for those associated with Manchester United, this particular fixture could be a pivotal season-shaper, as a failure to defeat second-tier Derby County could well spell the end of the Louis van Gaal era after just 18 months at the helm.

They are 10 points behind leaders Leicester and United have scored the same number of Premier League goals Sunderland – who are second bottom.

Some newspapers claimed that the Dutchman had tendered a verbal resignation to chief executive Ed Woodward after United’s 1-0 defeat to Southampton last Saturday.

Woodward seems to be pinning his hopes on Van Gaal’s previous achievements and what might be termed the United template of showing patience and loyalty to managers who find themselves under pressure, in the hope they win through in the end and stay for 20 or more trophy-laden years.

Derby’s sole FA Cup success came 70 years ago in 1946 – beating Charlton 4-1 (aet) in the first final after the conclusion of World War Two. And, not for the first time, Van Gaal has reacted angrily to the rumors. “Every time I went in to try and ask about it, he didn’t want to have the conversation”.

“How we have played is not always the main issue because you can play badly and win”. If you look at it now, Alan Hutton was in that group, but he managed to fight his way back.

“I can not say [if they are close]”, he added. “The injuries are now, that is also a problem”.

Manchester United’s Anthony Martial, left, and Derby’s Cyrus Christie battle for the ball during the English FA Cup fourth round soccer match between Derby County and Manchester United at the iPro Stadium, Pride Park in Derby, England, Friday, Jan. 29, 2016.

“You can play badly, and you can win, then you are not so fed up, I can assure you that”.

While the focus will be on getting back into the automatic promotion hunt, manager Paul Clement has stated that he will not be making mass changes to his lineup for the visit of Manchester United.

Derby needed a late goal, too, to dispose of League Two side Hartlepool United in the last round. “Now I can’t lose any more because I’m then condemned for the fourth time to be sacked and maybe then you have written the truth because sometimes it happens”.

Manchester United have won just 7 of their last 22 games, averaging less than a goal a match. After the club’s most recent loss against Southampton, many reports had speculated that van Gaal offered to resign, but that is not the case according to the Manchester United boss.