Louis van Gaal has offered to resign as Manchester United manager following poor run

LOUIS VAN GAAL offered to resign from his Manchester United post - before losing to Stoke on Boxing Day.

 

Louis van Gaal has already offered his resignation to Manchester United

 

Van Gaal, however, was reassured that the club wanted him to stay put.

United have now lost four games in a row and face Chelsea at Old Trafford tonight in what looks like being the Dutchman's final game in charge.

They have gone seven games without a win, been knocked out of the Champions League and dropped out of the top four.

 

United sit sixth, nine points off top spot, and look zapped of any confidence and creative spark.

Van Gaal has resigned from six of his eight previous jobs and admitted after the Stoke game that he could quit Old Trafford.

However, according to the Independent, he had already offered his resignation a week ago following United's poor fun.

But Ed Woodward - the man who brought him to Old Trafford after the David Moyes disaster - wants him to stay.

 

Woodward has overseen Van Gaal's spending of over £250million and would be on dangerous ground if Van Gaal was to go.

Michael Carrick insists the squad remain behind Van Gaal - although performances suggest otherwise.

"I have a lot of pride in myself and in my performances and I think it is a bit disrespectful when people say that the lads aren't trying for the manager," Carrick said.

"That hurts us a lot, because that is 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.

"But I think to say we are not trying for certain people is quite disrespectful and it hurts us a lot.

"We're playing for this great club, it is a special club. It is pride in yourself, pride in the club and pride in everyone - your team-mates and staff."

 

One fan offered Van Gaal his P45 on Boxing Day

 

Pressure on Van Gaal has increased with Jose Mourinho's sacking at Chelsea.

The Portuguese released a statement shortly after insisting he was ready to work again straight away and wanted a job in England.

Mourinho is the favourite to replace Van Gaal - and his name has even been heard during United's last two matches, the defeats to Norwich and Stoke.

However United are also keeping tabs on Pep Guardiola, who is set to leave Bayern Munich in the summer but is expected to head to Manchester City.

Following the defeat at the Britannia Van Gaal was asked about being sacked and admitted he could take matters into his own hands.

“It is not always that the club has to sack me," he said. "Sometimes I do it by myself."

And Express Sport understands he will leave if United lose to Chelsea tonight.