Manchester United will ditch
Louis van Gaal this summer - even if he leads them to FA Cup glory.
Winning the FA Cup will not be
enough to save Van Gaal, as United are preparing an exit strategy for him and a
succession plan involving Jose Mourinho.
The Red Devils' progress to
the semi-finals, and the prospect of their first trophy since Sir Alex Ferguson
retired almost three years ago, has not altered the thinking among the Old
Trafford hierarchy that a change is now required this summer.
And the prospect of missing
out on Champions League qualification for the second time in three years (with
six games to go United are fifth, four points behind fourth-placed Manchester
City and with a far inferior goal difference), as well as the fact Van Gaal
will be entering the final year of his contract, has strengthened the belief
that this close-season is the right time to make that change.
With Pep Guardiola taking over
at Manchester City this summer and old rivals such as Chelsea and Liverpool
expected to come back strongly after difficult seasons, United cannot risk
another season of Van Gaal-led underachievement.
Against that backdrop, they
are already preparing for life after the Dutchman — with Mourinho the man
entrusted with the task of taking them back to the very top, both domestically
and in Europe.
Serial winner Mourinho, who
has been out of work since being sacked by champions Chelsea in December, is
ready to succeed Van Gaal and fulfil his long-held ambition of managing United.
Opposition to the Special
One's appointment, from Ferguson and fellow club legend Sir Bobby Charlton, is
understood to have eased with senior figures now accepting the need for change
if United are to progress.
Source: mirror
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