Louis van Gaal's reign set to end even if Manchester United beat Chelsea at Old Trafford

Louis van Gaal will lead Manchester United against Chelsea tonight but the match could prove to be the Dutchman’s last as manager after it emerged that he has serious doubts over whether he can continue in his position.

Van Gaal has spoken with United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward since Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Stoke City, the club’s fourth loss in a row, and took training at Carrington yesterday.

The 64-year-old arrived later than assistant manager Ryan Giggs, sparking speculation he was in meetings over his future, but he checked in at the Lowry Hotel with his squad last night and will take charge of the game at Old Trafford.

Woodward is believed to have told Van Gaal that he still has the support of the club, urging him to tough it out through a difficult run of results, yet the Dutchman has genuine concerns over whether he can turn their season around.

As a result, it appears inevitable that Van Gaal is approaching the end of his stormy reign. He even admitted on Saturday that he would consider resigning for the seventh time in his managerial career if results did not improve.
And it is understood the prospect of a fourth successive league defeat will force his departure.
United have not won in seven games and a fifth successive defeat would equal their worst run since 1936 and surely make Van Gaal’s position untenable.
Michael Carrick, the midfielder, has hit back at “disrespectful” accusations that the squad are not fighting for their beleaguered manager, after a chastening afternoon in the Potteries on Boxing Day.
Yet it is clear that Van Gaal is facing the end game after 18 months in charge, and United have made no guarantees that he will see the year out as manager.
Van Gaal took a wrong turn on his way to the team bus after the humiliating defeat at Stoke and it somehow seemed appropriate, considering United appear to have lost all sense of direction and the players are lost in a maze of muddled tactics and baffling team selections.
His decision to drop Wayne Rooney became almost a footnote in the post-mortem of this latest embarrassment and this was arguably one of the lowest points in their two years of decline.
Stoke have played far better this season and it is difficult to remember any United team looking so weak, uninspired and devoid of leadership.
It is a rebuilding job that has gone awry and requires genuine scrutiny at the very top, with Woodward equally culpable after sanctioning the £250 million trolley-dash.
Carrick was the only United player to offer his thoughts, yet it will require a drastic upturn in performance and mood to produce a result against Chelsea and prove the players still support Van Gaal.
“People talk about support [for the manager] but it’s not like the lads go out and don’t play. We go out there as professionals who are playing for this special club,” Carrick said. “I have a lot of pride in myself and in my performances and I think it is a bit disrespectful when people say that the lads aren’t trying for the manager.