Jose Mourinho added to the pressure on Van Gaal by releasing a statement - Read the statement.
His team are out of the Champions League and haven’t won for six games — and Van Gaal accepted he was in danger of being sacked. ‘Of course I am worried about that,’ he said. ‘I know belief in a manager is very important. And when you lose games, belief in a manager shall decrease. That is happening now. I cannot close my eyes.
‘I am also evaluating myself as well as the players. Because of that I am, or maybe I should say was, a successful manager.’ Jose Mourinho added to the pressure on Van Gaal by releasing a statement through his agents, CAA Sports, which made it clear that he wants to work again immediately following his dismissal from Chelsea and that for now he will remain in England.
Louis van Gaal admitted that his Manchester United job was in jeopardy on Saturday night, after an extraordinary day which saw Jose Mourinho make it clear he wants to be back in work as soon as possible.
As Chelsea fans turned on Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa for their perceived role in the sacking of Mourinho, and with Guus Hiddink now confirmed as interim manager until the end of the season, attention turned to Old Trafford, where Norwich’s 2-1 win condemned United to their third successive defeat.
United fans were in open revolt, booing Van Gaal as he walked off, and with Pep Guardiola about to announce his departure from Bayern Munich and Mourinho making his availability clear, the United manager was a worried man.
‘Jose will not be taking a sabbatical, he isn’t tired, he doesn’t need it, he is very positive, and is already looking forward,’ read the statement.‘Because of his love of football, you will see Jose at grounds working and supporting friends. He will not be attending high-profile games because he wants to discourage any speculation about his future.
‘Jose will remain living in London and hopes he and his family will be given the opportunity to do this privately. During his career, Jose has sometimes chosen to leave a club, but only at Chelsea has the club decided that he should leave.’
Mourinho’s statement will put pressure on United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to make a quick decision on Van Gaal.
Fresh reports in Germany have linked Guardiola, whose departure from Bayern will be announced next week, with Manchester City, with Carlo Ancelotti in line to replace him in Munich.
United risk missing out on the leading managers, though they have an alternative succession plan of giving the job to Ryan Giggs.
