Mourinho latest, Van Gaal update and West Ham buildup
If Manchester United go out of the FA Cup tomorrow, their season is practically over.
It’s a massive, massive game at Upton Park, in an FA Cup quarter final replay following the initial game at Old Trafford, which feels like a lifetime ago now.
It was a disappointing weekend for United, who got stuck in traffic in the middle of London before finally showing up to White Hart Lane, only to get whacked 3-0 by Spurs. The response from manager Louis van Gaal was met with criticism, as he claimed that Tottenham, who had just outplayed his side, would never be a bigger club than Manchester United.
It’s a worrying time for United fans, a disappointing season that has brought an early exit in the Champions League followed by a dismal Europa League exit after being defeated by Liverpool. Their league form has been inconsistent but the boring style of play has been ever present. A failure to make the top 4 and qualify for next season’s Champions League would round it all off.
They have a chance, however, to salvage something from a below-par season tomorrow night, if they can pull off a massive result at West Ham and make it to Wembley for an FA Cup semi-final against Everton.
Whether that saves Louis van Gaal’s job is unknown, he may have to go all the way in the competition AND qualify for Champions League to do that, targets that you’d expect from a big club like United.
It’s been heavily rumoured over the recent weeks and months that Jose Mourinho is waiting in the wings to come at take over in the summer. And today The Times backpages are claiming the players are becoming sick of taking the blame from the manager.
In terms of transfer updates, United are still tracking Borussia Dortmund captain Mats Hummels, who seems set to leave Germany in the summer, he recently told German media:
“Age gives you a feeling that you don’t have forever to win. I realise in every year I don’t win a title, I’m closer to retiring.”
In terms of going forward, it was revealed yesterday that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said he would be open to going to United this summer- if Van Gaal was to depart. This added strength to those rumours that Jose Mourinho will be the man in charge come the new season in August.
Whether it’s more firepower going forward, a new manager or just getting to that cup semi-final tomorrow night, it’s key that United find fresh inspiration from somewhere. It’s been a torrid season and unless something dramatically changes it won’t be much better next season, especially with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, Pep Guadiola’s Man City and Antonio Conte’s Chelsea set to become even more difficult competition next season.
By Ben Kelly – @benkelly_10
