Louis van Gaal unsure of Manchester United future: 'That is a question for the board'

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Louis van Gaal admits he does not know if he will be Manchester United manager next season should he fail to qualify for the Champions League.

United are in fifth place in the Premier League, six points off the top-four ahead of Saturday's trip to Sunderland. 

Van Gaal wants to see out his contract at Old Trafford before retiring in the summer of 2017 but accepts the situation could be taken out of his hands if he cannot secure a top-four finish. 

Louis van Gaal insists that questions over his future should be put to the Manchester United board

The United manager is under pressure with the club fifth in the Premier League, six points off fourth place

'It's not a question of me, it's a question of the board of Manchester United, you have to put it to them,' he said. 'I have a contract for three years and you know that.'

United have maintained a stony silence while speculation has raged that Jose Mourinho has been lined up to replace Van Gaal. 

Although the Dutchman is understood to have the backing of Old Trafford chief Ed Woodward, he is thought to be reluctant to voice it in public in case the club finish outside the top-four and the manager's position becomes practically untenable.

But asked if it would help if he was given a public vote of confidence, Van Gaal said: 'I am not agreeing - I agree with this policy of the club.'

Jose Mourinho, pictured in London on Thursday, believes it is a 'done deal' that he will replace Van Gaal

United fell further behind top four rivals after conceding an added-time equaliser against Chelsea last week

 

Van Gaal hopes that United can make up points this weekend with the top-four in action against each other on Sunday – Leicester are away to Arsenal and City entertain Tottenham.

But after seeing his team held to a draw when Chelsea snatched a late equaliser at Stamford Bridge last weekend, the United boss challenged his players to do their job first before relying on their rivals dropping points over the final 13 games of the season.

He added: 'We know that they play against each other so it's sure that some competitors will lose points. But we have to win our points.

'We don't have to look to our competitors you have to win your own matches first. That's also why we were so frustrated that we lost two points against Chelsea. First you have to win by yourself and then you look at your competitors.

'It's also dependable on competitors because by the end of the competition then you have to cope with that pressure. Manchester United is almost used to that pressure.'

Jesse Lingard looked to have secured United the points at Stamford Bridge before Diego Costa's late strike

Van Gaal knows there is a chance to close the gap on their rivals with the top four playing each other

Asked if his team can handle it, he added: 'I have to say that we are doing great in that perspective. We have lost in December four matches in a row and when you see us playing now you can only say that we are mentally very strong and we can cope with the pressure.

'But that is not enough we have to improve our results in consistency and win a lot of matches in a row now. We have to reduce the gap with our competitors.'

Phil Jones, Adnan Januzaj and Guillermo Varela have joined United's casualty list after picking up injuries playing for the Under 21s. They join Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, Ashley Young, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Antonio Valencia on the sidelines.

Van Gaal added: 'We have a lot of injuries and we have to cope with that. When you play a lot of matches, and we play a lot in February and hopefully also in March, it is more difficult.

'I let the players play in the second team and you can be injured in the second team as well, that's our problem.

Phil Jones has added his name to United's injury list after picking up another problem playing for the U21s

Adnan Januzaj is also out of Saturday's clash with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light

'We have coped with that for the whole season and it also delivers youngsters out of our youth.

'It's a good policy and I'm happy with (Cameron) Borthwick-Jackson and (Jesse) Lingard. Because of the policy they have that chance.'

Memphis Depay also gave a promising performance against Norwich after he was criticised for giving away possession cheaply in the build-up to Chelsea's equaliser at Stamford Bridge.

Van Gaal said: 'It is for him a very good match because he could raise his confidence. I have seen the reaction of the fans because these are the real fans who watch the second team.

'They were very enthusiastic. He had three assists. It is also good for him and that is why I let him play because I can't play too many first-team players in the second team.

'Now we have to play Sunderland tomorrow (Saturday) and then Midjytlland also (in the Europa League) and then the FA Cup versus Shrewsbury.

'That was almost the last time I can play with Memphis in the second team but also Januzaj and others.'