UNDER-FIRE Louis van Gaal flew back to England on Monday night in a bid to save his job and quell more dressing room mutiny.
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| Louis van Gaal has taken some time off put the pressure mounts at Manchester United |
He gave his players two days off as well to re-charge their batteries but he and his squad will return to the club's Carrington training complex this morning in a bid to lift the mood ahead of Friday's crucial FA Cup tie at Derby.
Defeat at Derby, however, could force the club to make a change.
To add to Van Gaal's problems, it is understood that Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young are the latest players unhappy with him.
Fellaini, humiliatingly hauled off at half-time on Saturday, is concerned about his lack of game time affecting his chances of playing a major part for Belgium in Euro 2016 this summer and is pushing for amove in this transfer window with several Italian clubs interested in taking the midfielder on loan.
And Young is understood to be dismayed that Van Gaal's failure to put a time-length on his absence with a groin injury could scupper his hopes of gate-crashing Roy Hodgson's England squad for the tournament in France.
Van Gaal may also feel undermined that Woodward is reported to have taken soundings from senior players as to why the Dutchman's methods appear not to be working and what needs to change.
Saturday's home defeat to Southampton - when Van Gaal was booed by fans - has left United five points adrift of the top four.
Former United winger Bojan Djordjic echoed the sombre mood around Old Trafford when he said: "The only corner we are turning is into some dark alley where we get robbed again".
United are already out of the Champions League and Capital One Cup and defeat to Championship promotion hopefuls Derby on Friday could prove the final straw. One possibility is that Van Gaal might offer his resignation.
He somehow needs to lift his players, who were left back on the floor after the New Year optimism built on a five-game unbeaten run that was shattered by the weekend defeat.
Juan Mata admitted it had left "a bad taste" and sympathised with fans frustrated by a performance when United managed only one shot on target.
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| Juan Mata is the latest Man United player to speak out after their poor season |
In his weekly blog, he said: "Once again, I'm writing with a bad taste. After several games without being defeated, we lost to Southampton at Old Trafford. And it hurts, it really does.
"It was the perfect time to get the three points and stretch the good streak in 2016, but we couldn't make it. It wasn't a good game from either of team, a draw would have been a fair result - although not good enough for us - but a late goal from Charlie Austin after a free-kick took the points away from us.
"It's another tough moment, for you and for us, but we must get through this. I understand your frustration, because we feel the same way, but we have to carry on.
"Football doesn't stop and now it's time for the FA Cup. And we want to fight for this trophy for you. We feel bad every time we get a bad result, but it hurts even more for you. We must get better results for you, I hope this beautiful competition will provide them. I hope we can make a good game, get through the next round and start another good run of results."
Van Gaal has had some good news, however, with Matteo Darmian easing United's defensive crisis by insisting he will be fit for Friday's cup-tie.
Italy international Darmian tweeted that he was "fine" be after being taken to hospital "spitting blood" from a rib injury suffered in a a hefty collision with Shane Long on Saturday.
United are already without four other full-backs - Young, Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw.
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