LOUIS VAN GAAL will help to serve up Christmas dinner to his Manchester United players on Monday as planned, despite intense speculation he could soon be replaced as manager by Jose Mourinho.
United have failed to win in their last six matches in all competitions, with Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Norwich City marking a third straight loss.
Mourinho’s sacking by Chelsea on Thursday and current availability has prompted intense speculation linking the Portuguese to the United hotseat should Van Gaal be sacked, with the 64-year-old admitting on Saturday that he fears for his job.
“Yes, of course I am worried about my job,” Van Gaal told a post-match press conference.
I know belief in a manager is very important. And when you lose the belief in the manager decreases. That is happening now, and I can’t close my eyes to that.”
However, Van Gaal is intent on carrying on as planned and will partake in United’s annual Christmas dinner celebrations at their Carrington training complex on Monday.
The Dutchman has also informed his players that they will not be expected to train on Christmas Day as is the tradition in England. As he did last year, Van Gaal has decided to give his squad the day off to spend with their families, with the players gathering in the evening at a hotel ahead of their Boxing Day trip to Stoke City.
Mourinho was spotted in the stands at Brighton on Saturday as Chris Hughton’s side lost to Middlesbrough with United’s on-loan striker James Wilson in the starting XI.
The Portuguese announced in a statement over the weekend that he is keen to return to management as soon as possible, insisting he is “not tired”.
