“For me, the Euro League is a big competition and we will try to win it.” they are not the words Manchester United fans wanted to hear at the end of a vital week in Manchester United's season from their under pressure manager Louis Van Gaal.
United fans have to deal with the reality of being in the dreaded Europa League from next February when European football returns after the winter break. While anti United fans are loving United's fall from grace, fact remains United only won two games out of six, none convincingly. They also failed to win any of their away games in despite what some say, was a very ordinary group. While many factors play apart in this, we are out and we have to first focus on facing Bournemouth at the weekend then we will all wait with anticipation for Monday's Europa League draw!!
Louis Van Gaal is taking most of the flak from the fallout out over the European exit, and my own feelings on his future have only grown stronger following the events of midweek. However he alone cannot be blamed. The last two matches against West Ham United and Wolfsburg some sitters were missed by Fellaini and Martial to name just two. Van Gaal cannot be blamed for the players missing chances. Tactics play apart in how players play, but they have to take some of the blame. Players like Schweinsteiger, Mata, Carrick and Rooney should leading by example.
If other clubs were asked to take their pick from the United squad, I feel Loius Van Gaal need not worry much, only De Gea would be walking out the door. De Gea was signed by Alex Ferguson. None of the signings by either Moyes or Van Gaal have worked out. Fair enough it is early days and some are showing potential. Van Gaal has to take the blame for the way he does his shopping. Players seem to be picked from here and there and there seems to be no process to this. We spent all summer searching for a defender chasing Ramos for what seemed like an eternity, then he signed his new huge contract as expected and we suddenly didn't need a defender and Van Gaal went again with what he had. Fair enough the defence has been excellent but it seems strange to have even courted Ramos then. Was it just a PR exercise, did he even want him or think he could get him? Same could be said of Pedro, Neymar, Bale and many more unrealistic targets that were seemingly " part of the process".
United failed to get the signings they needed last summer and their European exit is partly because of that. Had the Premier League not been so poor so far this season United would struggle to make the top ten given the way and style they play.
Manchester United are now facing a huge problem. One of the reasons they sacked David Moyes was that they didn't trust him with the rebuilding job and his ability to invest the money wisely. Van Gaal has shown he too can be question on his ability to do likewise. United too will question the sense in giving another reported £200m to a manager who won't be there in 18 months time. Will the next manager want the players Van Gaal has signed the previous summer? Will players want to play in his philosophy? Is his reputation the reason we cannot attract top quality players so far? Would Ancelotti or Guardiola be a better option to achieve these goals?
Many questions remain unanswered and United need to work out how they go forward from this. Van Gaal is growing increasingly unpopular at Old Trafford. How long until another plane goes flying over Old Trafford? Jurgen Klopp's immpresive start at Liverpool will leave many at United questioning if they should have been in for him, and with the future's of Guardiola and Ancelotti still to be decided can United let them go elsewhere? Who will be available to them come May 2017 when Van Gaal as expected departs to his retirement?
While it would be harsh to sack him before the end of his contract, United need to start thinking now about his future and the future of United after him. As we have found with the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson there has to be a process involved and that should start now, be it deemed harsh or not.
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