According to reports, Louis van Gaal is confident he can hang onto his job at Manchester United if he secures a return to the Champions League.
As per the Mirror, van Gaal has faith that the club’s hierarchy will keep him on board for the third year of his contract if he can guide United to a top-four finish and a return to the elite continental competition.
Red Devils fans have grown increasingly frustrated with LVG following a particularly testing year at Old Trafford. The football has been uninspiring, many of the Dutch coach’s high-profile summer signings have not worked out, and some of the players he axed in the summer—notably Javier Hernandez and Angel Di Maria—have shone after leaving Manchester.
Similarly, the Red Devils were dumped out of the Champions League at the first hurdle, while they currently sit outside the top four in the Premier League.
After 25 matches, United currently sit in fifth, a considerable six points behind fourth-place Manchester City. Indeed, it may take a significant improvement for the Red Devils to overhaul their neighbours or one of their other rivals near the top of the table.
Intriguingly, LVG could also seal a return to the Champions League should he win the Europa League, with the Red Devils set to face Midtjylland in their Round-of-32 clash, with the first leg in Denmark on Thursday February 18.
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