It has been a rough road for Manchester United ever since Sir Alex Ferguson called it quits. Successor David Moyes was not even given a whole season before he was given the boot. Now Manchester United are under experienced Dutchman Louis van Gaal. It was an exciting announcement when his arrival was confirmed because he was coming to Old Trafford with bags of experience and knew what it felt to lift major trophies around Europe.
But things don’t always go as planned. Replacing Sir Alex is no walk in the park, for anyone. In his first season, van Gaal managed a 4th place finish in the Premier League. It was a trophy-less season, but the 4th place finish did ensure that United would play in the Champions League after a whole season.
The Dutchman’s team is now sitting in 6th with the Premier League in its final stages. Just a point behind their rival’s Manchester City, who are in 4th place.
Though the fans want Louis van Gaal out, here are three major reasons why he should be given another season.
The Promise
I am pretty sure we all know Louis van Gaal said that he would require a minimum of three years to make Manchester United a force to reckon with or at least at par with the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
Let’s not forget that he has actually been with giant clubs including the ones mentioned in the previous sentence. Van Gaal has the experience and he knows what is needed and what it feels to lift a European Trophy.
However, England is a tough place to be. Be it a player, or a manager, you do require a substantial amount of time to get settled in. Yes, United have been struggling, but they aren’t alone. We know where the defending champions are and we also know where last season’s relegation fighters are.
Long story short, the Premier League is unpredictable. Anything can happen and it’s a new experience for van Gaal and that is why (including the next two reasons) he deserves, at least, another season.
The Injuries
Louis van Gaal wasn’t quiet during the transfer window. He got players like Matteo Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Memphis Depay and Anthony Martial. It was a good summer as these players bolstered the positions which were weak in the past.
The signings were good, but it all went downhill because of injuries. Starting with the biggest blow dealt with Luke Shaw being ruled out for the rest of the season. Manchester United had a good start to the season, but then Luke Shaw got injured and more followed.
Centre backs Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo were ruled out for a long period. Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young joined that list. Michael Carrick was also sidelined and Bastian Schweinsteiger has been struggling lately. Skipper Wayne Rooney has also been unavailable for a month.
The injury count touched 17 as Louis van Gaal fielded teams which were a blend of the available first team players and the youth. Still, somehow, the Dutchman got crucial results. United have struggled but have been surprisingly good against the big guns of English football. Youngster Marcus Rashford scoring against teams like Arsenal and Manchester City.
With a decent squad, less number of injuries, the youth promising and probably a couple of new faces joining the club next season, Louis van Gaal can bring success to the club.
The History
Manchester United was under the command of Sir Alex Ferguson for 27 years. People haven’t heard the words “manager sacked” at Manchester United since a very long time. Heard it once when David Moyes was axed, shockingly, even before he completed his first season at the club.
Better late than never, the club seems to have realized the mistake they committed and are looking to make up for it by giving Louis van Gaal so much time. When we compare the statistics of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal at Manchester United, it is almost the same. That surely indicates that Manchester United won’t become that club which sacks their manager within a short span of time if they don’t get instant success.
I understand that fans will say we are giving the right chance to the wrong person, but I don’t think there is any other manager out there who can be an ideal replacement, not even Jose Mourinho. Fans are definitely impatient and frustrated with the lack of victories and trophies. Majority of them even want to see van Gaal walk the plank, but I think he deserves another season and that is what the Board and the Owners have in their mind.
Suggestions coming in saying there are better people to replace the Dutchman – The Special One who almost got the defending champions relegated and the other being van Gaal’s right-hand man Ryan Giggs.
Jose Mourinho, apparently, is in pole position for the job, if United decide to part ways with Louis van Gaal.
There have been positive signs, the performance against the top teams has been good. United are just 1 point away from a Champions League spot in a league being led by Leicester with Tottenham right behind them (Again, just saying how unpredictable the Premier League is), and are still in the FA Cup which I’m pretty sure Louis van Gaal and everyone at Old Trafford is hungry for. Let’s not forget how he believes in the youth and gives an opportunity to the ones who deserve it.
That’s it. The three reasons, which I think, are enough to keep Van Gaal at Manchester United for another season. Give him a good, fit squad and support him and he will bring back the glory days for Manchester United.
