Defeat to Manchester City will end Man United’s EPL Top 4 hopes, admits Van Gaal
Louis van Gaal
Manchester: Louis van Gaal admits Manchester United's disappointing EPL campaign could reach a crescendo in this weekend's derby against City — not that the Dutchman is feeling any pressure.
Manchester United's manager Louis van Gaal reacts during their EPL match against Watford in Manchester recently. pic/AFP
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Fresh from being knocked out of the Europa League by bitter rivals Liverpool, the inconsistent Red Devils make the short journey to the Etihad Stadium for a mouth-watering encounter. Manuel Pellegrini's men currently reside in the final Champions League spot and boast a four-point cushion over sixth-placed United with just nine matches remaining.
They are circumstances that have not stressed under-fire Van Gaal, though, albeit he concedes defeat today would likely end his team's top-four aspirations. "We are now four points behind so you have to win otherwise the gap is bigger and bigger and the (number of) matches you have to play are not so big," the United boss said.
'Points gap not huge'
"I think with a gap of seven points and with eight matches then it is very (hard) to recover from that gap. It is still possible but it is difficult because West Ham are also in front, not only City. I am never feeling I am under pressure. I do what I have to do."
Jose Mourinho's continues to cast a shadow over the Dutchman. "I don't discuss that with you," Van Gaal said of his future. Every day, when we are losing or out of Euro League, you put the questions but why? I have a three-year contract and the process is three years. For four months now you have been writing I shall be sacked.You think that is logical, normal? Expectations can be too high. Our purpose was to reach the top three because we want to do better than last year. But then you have to analyse the circumstances, how I have to work."
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