Louis van Gaal: I will leave Manchester United if chemistry fades with players



Louis van Gaal has revealed he will leave Manchester United if he loses 'the chemistry' of his team



LOUIS VAN GAAL has revealed he will walk away from Manchester United if he lost "the chemistry" with his players.

 

As he absorbed the blow of being without injured skipper Wayne Rooney for at least the next two games, United manager Van Gaal insists he retains the trust of his squad despite rumours of unrest over his training methods and tactics.

The demanding Dutchman walked away from his second spell at Barcelona in 2003, quit as technical director at Ajax in 2005, after a bust-up with Johan Cryuff, and also threatened to leave his second season at AZ Alkmaar before being persuaded to continue.

And even though he has 18 months left on his contract, he would not be afraid to depart Old Trafford as reports in Italy have claimed former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti and Juve coach Massimo Allegri have already been sounded out by United as potential successors.

He said: "The most important thing for me as a trainer, coach and manager is the chemistry between me and my players and my board. When I have the feeling that the chemistry is there, I will always work to my utmost best.

"But when I have a single feeling that it is not like that, I'm the first coach that quits and I have proved that already with my former clubs and former jobs. Because of the money involved, I don't think there are many coaches who decide to quit - but I am like that."

There have been murmurs that players are unhappy with his strict training rules but asked what the current chemistry is like at Old Trafford he replied: "It's good. It should be good, otherwise I would be gone."

Rooney, who sustained an ankle injury in the 1-1 draw at Leicester, is absent from today's home clash with West Ham - which would have been his 500th appearance for the club - and Tuesday's vital Champions League visit to Wolfsburg, where United are likely to need to win to qualify for the knock-out stages.

Man United are without Wayne Rooney for West Ham clash after suffering an ankle injury at Leicester

Meanwhile, Slaven Bilic wants the Hammers to cement their reputation as Premier League giant killers today - but has told his players they will only get two chances at Old Trafford.

The Hammers aim to become the first team to beat the so-called 'big five' in 20 years having already toppled four of them this season with victories over Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool secured.

Now manager Bilic hopes to add United to that list and become the first manager to achieve the feat since former Leeds boss Howard Wilkinson in 1995.

Bilic said: "They are very hard to beat. In every game they have more chances than the opponent. They have more ball possession than the opponent and in every game the opponent has one or two chances - no more."