Monday 23 May 2016

Van Gaal sacked by United confirm.


Louis van Gaal has been sacked as manager of Manchester United, the club have confirmed.

The Dutchman spent the day at the club's Carrington training ground - after a day of negotiations over the terms of the compensation package for him and his coaching staff - before leaving just before 5pm.

Sky sources believe the Dutchman was informed on Sunday night he would no longer be in charge of the club - the club are yet to comment but a statement is expected on Monday evening.

It is thought this could coincide with the closing of the New York Stock Exchange at 9pm BST - United's share price has risen two per cent today.

We understand United are now due to speak to Jose Mourinho's representatives about replacing Van Gaal on Tuesday.

The former Chelsea boss - out of work since leaving Stamford Bridge before Christmas - spent Monday in London, and was seen leaving his home with long-time assistant Rui Faria.

As he returned for the second time - without Faria - he told reporters, cameramen and photographers waiting outside: "Go home, go home, go home because I don't leave the house today. It's better to go home."

Van Gaal arrived at Carrington at 8.45am and he was joined there an hour later by employment lawyer Paul Gilroy QC.

Ryan Giggs - whose own future is unclear after 29 years with United as a player and coach - left about 30 minutes after Gilroy arrived.

Gilroy also negotiated David Moyes' severance package when he was dismissed two years ago and he left again at around 3.30pm.

Although he waved to reporters waiting outside, he was driven away without making any comment.

Van Gaal's imminent exit has been widely expected despite him leading the club to the FA Cup on Saturday with a 2-1 final win over Crystal Palace.

Van Gaal has been in charge at Old Trafford since replacing Moyes and the weekend success at Wembley gave them their first trophy since Sir Alex Ferguson's reign ended in 2013.

His win rate is the third best of all of United's permanent managers at 51 per cent but this season has seen him attract criticism for his team's style of play.

United scored an average of just 1.29 goals per Premier League match, having always been over 1.5 goals per game each season since the inception of the revamped top flight in 1992.

At one point, the team went eight games without winning and recorded just three victories in 15 matches at the end of 2015.

Form in the second half of the campaign was better and it led to the cup win but a fifth-place finish in the Premier League and failure to qualify for the Champions League has cost Van Gaal.

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