Van Gaal hints at quitting

STOKE, England — Louis van Gaal raised the prospect of quitting as Manchester United manager after Stoke condemned the club to a fourth straight loss for the first time in 54 years on Saturday.

The 2-0 loss at the windy Britannia Stadium pushed United down to sixth place in the English Premier League, and Van Gaal is sensing the pressure after barely 18 months in charge.

“I can also quit by myself,” Van Gaal said when asked if he had received assurances about his future from the club hierarchy. “That is something I speak to (vice chairman) Ed Woodward (about) by himself — not with you (reporters).

“It is not always ... the club has to fire or sack me. Sometimes I do it by myself. I am the one who wants to speak first with the board of Manchester United and with my members of staff and players — and not with you.”

United was in disarray defensively in the first half when Memphis Depay’s horrendous defending allowed Bojan Krkic to score, and Marko Arnautovic powered in Stoke’s second goal from outside the penalty area.

United captain Wayne Rooney watched it all from the sidelines after being dropped to the bench for the first time in a league match in almost two years. United came to life only in the second half after Rooney was brought on, but Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland thwarted any hopes of a comeback.

“The circumstances were difficult — not only the circumstances, the wind, but also the pressure,” Van Gaal said. “That is in my opinion the reason they don’t dare to play football (in the first half).”

The losing streak started with Champions League elimination, and has also seen United drop out of the Premier League top four by losing to Bournemouth and Norwich.

Winless in seven matches, United has little time to recover its confidence, with a home match against Chelsea on Monday.

Asked if he would be in charge for the game, Van Gaal said: “You will have to wait and see. But I think so.”

“I try to do everything but the pressure shall be every match higher and higher, and we have to solve that problem,” added Van Gaal, who has been in charge since July 2014. “It’s more difficult because I am now part of the four matches we have lost and people are looking at me.”

A day after British astronaut Tim Peake displayed a Stoke flag on the International Space Station, the central England team was in a different orbit to United in the first half.

Depay’s mind seemed to be on another planet when he sent a downward header back toward goalkeeper David de Gea in an attempt to clear Geoff Cameron’s deep ball.

Depay, a winger in the right back position, was unaware that Glen Johnson was primed to dart in and seize possession before crossing for Krkic, who took a touch then slotted the ball into the net in the 19th minute.

“It was a bad goal to give away,” Van Gaal said.

If United’s players were fighting to save their manager’s job, they didn’t demonstrate it. Their response lacked any burning desire to end their slump.

And the mission facing United became even tougher seven minutes later. Krkic’s free kick was blocked by the United wall but the ball came back out to the edge of the penalty area and Arnautovic’s powerful strike beat De Gea.

United was offering little in response, with Depay’s free kick parried by Butland, and Marouane Fellaini was offside as he tried to react.

United was spared further misery before the interval when Arnautovic ran onto Krkic’s throughball but missed the target with his shot.

As usual, on the United bench there was little outgoing evidence of concern, with neither Van Gaal nor assistant Ryan Giggs springing out of their seats to berate or inspire their team.

Van Gaal’s about-turn came at halftime when Rooney spent the break warming up before coming on to replace Depay.

Rooney’s first significant contribution came after 20 minutes on the field, cutting the ball back for Fellaini six yards in front of goal. But rather than slamming the ball high into the net, Fellaini shot low and lacking power, allowing Butland to make a diving save.

In the closing minutes, Rooney this time set up Juan Mata but again Butland made the vital save. And Butland also pushed Anthony Martial’s attempt round the post as Stoke completed a December double over Manchester clubs, having already beaten City.

Stoke is three points behind United, which manager Mark Hughes used to play for. United is three points adrift of fourth-place Tottenham.

Manchester United transfer rumours and news: Real Madrid reignite David De Gea interest?

PLUS: Under-fire United boss Louis van Gaal could walk away from his job before he is sacked, should the club go on to lose a fifth straight game.

Manchester United's woes are set to be compounded with Real Madrid poised to renew their efforts to sign David De Gea, according to the Daily Star on Sunday.

The Spaniard is still believed to be a target of Los Blancos, but will only likely move next summer.

De Gea signed a bumper new deal at Old Trafford after the proposed summer move collapsed at the last moment.

But Real are expected to be prepared to pay the bigger money required to secure his signature in the summer, making him their new No.1 as he was initially planned to be this season.

LVG set to QUIT Old Trafford?

Time is up: Van Gaal's time at Old Trafford appears to be coming to an end

Louis van Gaal could QUIT as Manchester United manager if his struggling stars lose a fifth game in a row against Chelsea.

Defeat to Stoke pilled the misery on Van Gaal as his job continues to remain in the balance.

But following the game, he reportedly said that he is ready to leave the post before Old Trafford chiefs take action themselves.

He said: "It is not always the club that has to sack me. Sometimes I do it by myself. I am the one who wants to speak first."

It is believed that Ryan Giggs would step in as interim manager of United.

Van Gaal accuses players of being too scared to play

Woes: Van Gaal looks dejected on the United bench

Louis van Gaal turned on his floundering stars last night and accused them of being too scared to play football because of the mounting pressure.

Van Gaal watched in horror at Stoke as Manchester United crashed to a third-straight league defeat after two goals in seven first-half minutes by Bojan and Marko Arnautovic, writes Steve Bates in the Sunday People.

Despite a second-half United revival, which saw Stoke’s England keeper Jack Butland deny Marouane Fellaini, Anthony Martial and Juan Mata, Van Gaal is on the brink of the sack.

But the 64-year-old Dutchman refused to take all the blame himself last night: “My thoughts are that we didn’t dare to play our football in the first half and then we gave a really bad goal away. At that time it was too much.

“We didn’t play our football because of the pressure and we would not cope with the circumstances either as a group or individual players.

“I said at half-time we had nothing to lose and we coped better after that.

“You can say I failed in my job because they could not cope but in the end the players must do that for themselves. You can say I failed but I don’t think it is like that.”

Yorke slams LVG's decision to drop Rooney

Dwight Yorke claimed Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal dropped a clanger leaving skipper Wayne Rooney on the bench at Stoke, writes Steve Bates in the Sunday People.

England striker Rooney only appeared after the break, by which time United were 2-0 down.

And United 1999 treble-winner Yorke said: “Leaving out your talisman meant that Van Gaal got it wrong.

“I just think the timing was wrong. To leave your captain out is a big call. It went against him today and that was the wrong move.

“It was painful watching them, they were short in every department.

“They need the likes of a Javier Hernandez or Ole Solskjaer because that scoring spark is lacking, but we can’t bring those players back.

“The players that have replaced them are not good enough and that is their downfall.”

Fellow Reds legend Rio Ferdinand admitted: “I’m not even surprised, that’s what hurts even more.”

Depay causes stir with Rolls Royce convertible

Flash: Depay rocked up to training in a brand new Rolls Royce

Memphis Depay has caused a stir again with his off-field behaviour – by turning up to training in a flashy Rolls Royce convertible.

The £25million signing from PSV Eindhoven, who was badly at fault for Stoke’s opening goal in Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat on Saturday, shocked management and senior players by arriving at United’s Carrington training complex in the £240,000 Phantom Drophead Coupe luxury supercar, reports Steve Bates in the Sunday People.

The 21-year-old’s displays have been far from sparkling and his movements off the pitch have concerned senior figures at the club. And he’s been advised to concentrate on making sure his on-field performances are right before allowing his off the pitch individualism to colour the judgement of his critics.