Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal welcomes Chelsea to Old Trafford on Monday evening with many expecting the result to be decisive for his future.
The Dutchman has now overseen four consecutive defeats in all competitions in the last month, and it has ultimately led to him being on the brink of losing his job.
Saturday’s defeat to Stoke City was another nail in the coffin as he even conceded that he could be forced to quit if he can’t improve the current situation at the Premier League giants, as noted by BBC Sport, and a loss to Chelsea at home could certainly force the club’s hierarchy into action.
Having opted to drop Wayne Rooney at the Britannia Stadium, it remains to be seen whether or not the captain returns from the start against the Premier League champions having made a significant impact after coming off the bench for the second half on Saturday.
United’s problems of scoring goals has continued to see them struggle both at home and abroad, and that has added to the immense pressure that has been building on Van Gaal over the past few months.
Whether or not the Dutch tactician can mastermind a turnaround remains to be seen, but he is certainly running out of time to prove to the board and supporters that he is capable of doing so as United’s chances of making the top four and qualifying for the Champions League continue to dwindle.
The Red Devils are now sixth in the table and three points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham, while their visitors will be looking to pile further misery on them to follow their draw with Watford on Saturday.
Guus Hiddink would have been pleased with the attitude of his players despite the failure to win against the Hornets, but Chelsea remain just two points above the relegation zone after 18 games as they continue to fight to salvage something from their season.
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