Manchester United are expected to officially confirm that Louis van Gaal has been sacked, with the Dutchman still having one year remaining on his deal with the club.
The Dutchman led the Red Devils to the FA Cup with their 2-1 win over Crystal Palace after extra-time at Wembley on Saturday, but speculation swiftly followed that a change could be in the offing.
Given United’s fifth-placed finish in the Premier League which means that they will be absent form the Champions League next season, it always appeared as though Van Gaal would be fighting a losing battle.
BBC Sport reported over the weekend that Jose Mourinho and his agent, Jorge Mendes, would hold talks with the club on Tuesday to confirm his appointment as the next manager, and United have now seemingly paved the way for that to happen.
Mourinho has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea last December, but will now likely be given the entire summer to plan his assault on the transfer market and get his new squad in peak condition ahead of the new campaign.
As for Van Gaal, it’s been a bitterly difficult two years for the Dutch tactician, who has constantly received criticism over his style of play from supporters, pundits and former players alike.
While it produced results at times, his inability to secure a top-four finish this season is likely to have been seen as the final straw by the hierarchy who have now finally decided to make a change, as claimed by the BBC.
Van Gaal will leave on a high note having won the FA Cup, but United supporters will now be expecting much more in the coming years with Mourinho breathing new life and belief into the club that they will be able to compete at the top of the Premier League as of next season.
United were expected to make an official statement at 1pm UK time in line with the New York Stock Exchange opening for business, but they have failed to do so, thus leading to more frustration over what is happening at the club.
Given that the decision appears to have been made with so much speculation surrounding the Dutchman, it seems like a matter of time before the news is made official.
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