Louis van Gaal: 'It's over now'

[bennythedip2]

Louis van Gaal: 'It's over' (May 22th 2016)

Louis van Gaal has left Manchester United's team hotel in London telling Sky Sports News HQ's reporter "it's over".

Sky sources understand Jose Mourinho is set to succeed Van Gaal as United manager with his agent, Jorge Mendes due to fly into the UK on Tuesday for talks.

Van Gaal's United side won the FA Cup at Wembley after beating Crystal Palace 2-1 after extra time - a game which looks like it may have been the Dutchman's final game in charge.

The victorious United squad boarded their bus just before midday on Sunday with Van Gaal posing for photographs with fans.


Sky Sports News HQ's James Cooper wished Van Gaal good luck to which he replied "No, No - it's over".

United have no plans for a victory parade in Manchester, and the club are believed to be angry that news of Mourinho's potential appointment has overshadowed the club's first FA Cup win since 2004 and first piece of silverware since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.

The club's owners are in London having attended the Cup Final but Manchester United have so far declined to comment.

Van Gaal also refused to comment on his future following the match, saying only: "I show you the cup. I don't discuss [my future] with the media."

Van Gaal has previously insisted that he would see out the last year of his contract, despite his side failing to secure a top four spot and Champions League football for next season.

The 64-year-old has invested over £250m on new players during his two-year reign at Old Trafford, but a fifth-place finish means United will play in the Europa League during the 2016-17 campaign.

[bennythedip2]

'Mourinho to replace van Gaal' . (May 21th 2016)

Jose Mourinho is set to become the next manager of Manchester United and talks are due to take place early next week, according to Sky sources.

Sky Sports News HQ has been told Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes is due to fly to England from China on Tuesday to negotiate a deal.

Manchester United have declined to comment.

The 51-year-old Portuguese has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea last November after overseeing the Blues' worst start to a Premier League campaign.

Mourinho, a three-time Premier League title winner with Chelsea, will inherit a United side that secured FA Cup success on Saturday by defeating Crystal Palace 2-1 after extra-time at Wembley.

The victory over Palace also saw United claim their first piece of silverware since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, but their triumph alooks set to be Van Gaal's last in charge.

Van Gaal also refused to comment on his future following the win over Palace, saying: "I show you the cup. I don't discuss (my future) with the media."

The Dutchman ad insisted throughout United's stuttering season that he would see out the last year of his contract, despite his side failing to secure a top four spot and Champions League football for next season.

The 64-year-old has invested over £250m on new players during his two-year reign at Old Trafford, but a fifth-place finish means United will play in the Europa League during the 2016-17 campaign.

[bennythedip2]

Neville: Mourinho's a quick fix . . (May 22nd 2016)

Jose Mourinho will last only two or three years at Manchester United but can bring success back to Old Trafford, according to former Red Devils defender Phil Neville.

Mourinho will replace manager Louis van Gaal in the coming days, the BBC has reported, after United finished fifth in the Barclays Premier League and missed out on the Champions League.

United beat Crystal Palace at Wembley on Saturday to win the FA Cup but the victory is not expected to save Van Gaal, who has failed to produce either a Premier League title challenge or brand of football in line with the club's traditions.

Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea in December after a miserable start to the season. Despite widespread success in his career, the Portuguese has never managed a club for longer than the three years and three months he spent at Chelsea in his first spell.

"I can't see him staying too long at Man United, maybe two or three years, that seems to be his shelf life at a football club," Neville told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek programme.

"When Jose finishes at a club it tends to be a pattern where he falls out with a few players, he gets disgruntled and the team dips.

"It happened at Chelsea, it certainly happened at Real Madrid where there were rumours he fell out with a few players.

"It's a pattern with Jose, he comes into a club, he gets success but he doesn't stay for too long."

United have now failed to finish higher than fourth in any of the three seasons since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.

Mourinho has a proven track record in England, having won the title three times with Chelsea, and Neville believes the former Madrid boss will already have a plan to achieve success again.

"He's a proven winner, a proven champion. United fans want a team that will challenge for the league title, not a team that finishes seventh or fifth, and Jose is probably the man for the job," Neville said.

"Knowing Jose as I do, I think he will have done his homework and he's meticulous in his planning.

"Don't be surprised if United in the next month, and particularly before the Euros, sign three or four players and when he gets to pre-season he has his squad already in place.

"He knows who he wants and at the start he will demand United sign those players for United to become championship challengers again."

[Tony2005]

Lets be honest until the Palace goal it was one of the worst finals i can remember.

Palace were so defensive and United were so slow getting the ball into the forwards and everytime they had an attack it seemed that Rooney had to touch the ball at least three times.

United had THREE shots on target in 120 mins......

At least the fans will be used of this for when Mourinho arrives to play his defensive style...

[Part-Timer]

Moaninio actually plays attacking football. Once they take the lead he continues to attack. Where he falls down is if they are leading with 20 mins to go this is when he gets defensive.