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Clouds descend on Van Gaal at Manchester United

By on March 18, 2016

Clouds descend over Manchester this weekend.  All told, it’s not an entirely uncommon scene.

In the footballing world, however, the skies haunt both Manchester big boys in a way that nobody thought possible at the beginning of the season as United and City prepare for a scrap for fourth place in their Manchester Derby this weekend.

Old Trafford used to illuminate the Manchester skyline with pride and chutzpah countering the gloom of a wet and windy night.  These days, however, the club’s aura has been bogged down by a myriad of disappointments during Louis van Gaal’s tenure at the club, and despite their home advantage, United will be considered the underdogs this weekend.

The Theater of Dreams is now a noticeably more somber place and the mood was darkened yet again on Thursday as bitter rivals Liverpool took control of their 1-1 draw in the Europa League, sending United crashing out of the competition. Anthony Martial scored United’s only goal but he was lacking a lethal partner up front. Marcus Rashford stepped into that role in recent weeks after Wayne Rooney’s injury, but he was invisible on the night.

Many praised United’s above-average first half and their promising resolve — “United’s pride restored,” declared the Guardian — but the only thing Thursday’s result truly restored at Old Trafford was the sense of disappointment.  Their identity crisis deepened and was highlighted by the crowded exit lines at the stadium towards the end of the game.  Van Gaal’s current team simply don’t have the wit or gumption that defined their identity for so long.

They’re last hope to salvage something from their disastrous season is to nip a fourth placed spot in the Premier League and qualify for the Champions League.

Even Van Gaal, however, admits it will be a tough task, and banked it all on Sunday’s Derby.

“We are now four points behind, so you have to win otherwise the gap is bigger and bigger and the [number of] matches that you have to play are not so big,” he said, per The Guardian.
“If we lose, the gap is seven points and we have to play eight matches – then it’s very difficult to recover from that. It is still possible but it’s difficult then because West Ham United are also in front [by two points]. So it is not only City but West Ham United.”

He admits that this season has been a disappointment for himself and the club.

“Our aim was to finish in the top three because we want to do it better than last year,” he said. “So not doing that would be below expectations. But then you have to analyze I think. You don’t have to agree with me, but you have to analyze the circumstances. How I have to work.”

The derby will be the last chance to salvage something of their league campaign.  They’ve won just five of their last sixteen league matches and have scored the fewest number of goals in the top half of the table, bar Stoke City.  Even relegation-embattled Sunderland have come within two goals of their total of thirty-seven so far this season.

City have a clear path forward — the skies will part for Pep Guardiola to descend from above this summer — and their promising youth academy and deep transfer budget provide a backbone for their grand plans.  But United have been veering sideways for many months, and something, anything to hold onto this weekend would be a welcome glimmer of light and hope.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.