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| Louis van Gaal is under mounting pressure following Man United exit from the Champions League |
MANCHESTER UNITED'S players were apparently complaining their dressing room was too warm for their liking in the Volkswagen Arena on Tuesday night.
But it was nothing like the heat Louis van Gaal is facing after their failure to navigate a Champions League group considered to be one of the "easiest.”
Now Van Gaal’s wish to retire to his “Portuguese paradise” may come a year earlier than he imagined.
If United fail to sustain a title challenge in the most open looking Premier League race since its launch in 1992, the club’s hierarchy will have to re-assess their stance on the controversial Dutchman.
A few days before their embarrassing European exit, senior sources at Old Trafford said they were happy with the progress being made under Van Gaal - and even refused to rule out the possibility of extending his contract if he was willing to postpone his retirement to his villa on the Algarve in 2017.
The same sources played down the potential of the impact of an early exit from the Champions League, stressing that the Premier League title was the club’s priority now, especially with the lucrative new broadcasting contract kicking in next season.
But with United now facing the indignity of Europa League football on Thursday nights in the New Year - which in turn will have a detrimental effect on their domestic title cxhallenge - the pressure has intensified on Van Gaal, who, at the very least, will need a top three finish and long FA Cup run to survive.
After reaching three Champions League finals in four seasons between 2008 and 2011, United’s stock in Europe is at its lowest point for two decades.
And even if the Glazer family, United’s owners, and the club’s board remain firm in their view Van Gaal is still the right man, the club’s considerable fan base is growing increasingly restless.
Carlo Ancelotti is available and has already thrown his hat into the ring for the United job. His track record is even more impressive than Van Gaal’s with domestic titles in Italy, England and Spain with AC Milan, Juventus, Chelsea and Real Madrid as well as two Champions Leagues.
Signifcantly, he is a close friend of Sir Alex Ferguson who recently described him as “one of the best coaches in the world” before adding that the Italian “wouldn’t be out of work for long.”
It is understood that United are reluctant to move for Pep Guardiola because they believe he is stitched on for neighbours City if he leaves Bayern Munich.
But the former Barcelona boss is rumoured to fancy the red side of Manchester rather than the blue so United fans would be right to suggest that it would be a dereliction of duty to not make discreet enquiry to the man regarded as the best coach in the world to establish if that is the case.
United missed the boat with Jurgen Klopp – who was lorded by Ferguson this week. Massimo Allegri has also been touted after his impressive work guiding Juventus to last season’s Champions League final and Serie A title but Ancelotti and Guardiola have to be the obvious candidates because of their outstanding track records at major clubs.
Van Gaal, 63, has talked of progress but it is hard to see. United have failed to qualify from a Champions League group that was not regarded as the most testing. And they have gone one round further in the Capital One Cup than last season.
In the Premier League they are only three points off the top but they are only one point better off than after 15 games last season and have scored six less goals. And the lack of goals and excitement, especially at Old Trafford, has resulted them being booed off in a several recent games.
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| Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola has been linked with moves to both Manchester United and City |
Despite spending £250m in his 18 months in charge, many of Van Gaal’s signings have yet to pay off and the squad lacks real world-class quality.
Commendably, Van Gaal has introduced plenty of promising youngsters but while that is likely pay dividends in the long-term it is unlikely to bring the short-term success that United need after going two years without a trophy.
The current injury crisis and goal shortage mean United need to strengthen in January when Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku should be obvious targets - however unlikely it is that their clubs will be prepared to sell them.
It is understood Unted’s board are prepared to provide another huge transfer pot in the summer to bring in a superstar like Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Neymar or Thomas Muller to give the team the missing X-factor.
Whether Van Gaal will be the manager to spend it will depend on United’s results – and performances – over the rest of the season.
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