Manchester United Players ‘Fighting’ For Louis Van Gaal, But Manager Threatens To Quit After Stoke City Defeat
Following Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat away to Stoke City on Saturday afternoon, it looks as though time is almost out for Louis Van Gaal as manager of the Red Devils. Especially since this was the fourth defeat for United in a row, while it was also their seventh game without a win.
If Manchester United are unable to beat Chelsea on Monday at Old Trafford, then many have predicted that Van Gaal could be sacked, while the Dutch manager himself has even threatened to quit. But despite all of this uproar, several Manchester United players have come out and insisted that they are still fighting for their manager.
The latest to do just that is Michael Carrick, with the Manchester United veteran and vice-captain coming out on Sunday to insist that the team is still playing and trying their best for Van Gaal.
Speaking to the BBC, Carrick stated, “It is a bit disrespectful when people say the lads aren’t trying for the manager. That hurts us – it’s not the type of people we are. We haven’t won games and it is fair enough if people criticise things that have gone wrong on the pitch.”
Louis van Gaal’s reign set to end even if Manchester United beat Chelsea at Old Trafford https://t.co/UQkHFeh8uI pic.twitter.com/rACxkdyDQ1
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) December 27, 2015
Talking about the bad patch that Manchester United are currently going through, Michael Carrick admitted, “It is a horrible run, and it is a horrible feeling. It hurts badly. The run we’ve been on is just not good enough. We can’t hide from it, we’re not going to hide from it. That is how it is and we all need to be better.”
On Christmas Eve, just two days before Manchester United succumbed to their defeat against Stoke, United’s captain Wayne Rooney, who was actually dropped for the Stoke game because of his own poor form, came out and declared that the players at Old Trafford were “fighting” for Louis Van Gaal.
Speaking to Sky Sports New HQ, via the Guardian, Wayne Rooney remarked, “We haven’t won games in the last few weeks so it’s normal confidence will be a bit lower. We need to try to get it back because we’ve got some tough games coming up and need to be at our best to win them.” Rooney continued, “It’s not nice when you’re getting criticised every game. It’s tough for the players to deal with. We get hurt because we’re proud people and proud to play for Manchester United. When it’s not going right it’s hard to take and frustrating.”
#LouisVanGaal about to fold after #United embarrassed at Stoke https://t.co/TEzf1OG4Af pic.twitter.com/7pZUvXkhgI
— RT Sport (@rtsportnews) December 27, 2015
However, there have been increasing rumors that Louis Van Gaal might actually decide to quit Manchester United rather than being sacked. The Dutch coach started these rumors himself following the 2-0 defeat at the Britannia Stadium.
After being asked about his future at Old Trafford and whether there might be discussions over his future, Van Gaal remarked, via the BBC, “It is not always the club that has to fire or sack me. Sometimes I do that by myself, but I am the one who wants to speak first with the board of Manchester United and my members of staff and my players, not with you.”
In fact, the back of the Telegraph, via 101 Great Goals, even reported that Louis Van Gaal could walk away from his position as Manchester United manager after their game with Chelsea, regardless of the result.
[Image via Associated Press]
