Heat on LVG after latest defeat

LOUIS van Gaal admits he is losing the battle to convince Manchester United fans he’s the right man to drag the club out of its worrying season.

A poisonous atmosphere took hold at Old Trafford on Saturday after Van Gaal’s side lost 1–0 to Southampton. As soon as Charlie Austin nodded in his 87th–minute winner, some United fans started hurling abuse at Van Gaal. Despite the best efforts of the Old Trafford PA system, boos reverberated around the stadium.

It was not an enjoyable experience for the manager or executive vice–chairman Ed Woodward, who fixed his eyes on Van Gaal from the directors’ box after the final whistle.

There was no immediate indication from the United hierarchy that Van Gaal would lose his job. Woodward has invested a lot in the 64 year old and has been fiercely determined to see him succeed.

Van Gaal refused to say afterwards if he would resign.

“This question, I shall never answer to you,” the United manager snapped.

The main question facing Woodward is how long this can continue Van Gaal’s claim that United were back in the title race following their 1–0 win over Liverpool last week now seems fanciful. They are now five points behind fourth–placed Tottenham in the league with 15 matches to go.

But it is not so much the results that are the issue for United fans – it is the team’s performances.

Van Gaal accepts he is failing to deliver attractive football and convince the fans he is turning things round.

“I’m very disappointed that I cannot reach the expectations of the fans,” the United manager said. “They had great expectations of me and I cannot fulfil them, so I am very frustrated because of that.”