Louis van Gaal Needs FA Cup Success to Prove Manchester United Progress

Manchester United were a very different club the last time they lifted the most iconic trophy in English football. Cristiano Ronaldo inspired the Old Trafford club to a 3-0 win over Tim Cahill’s Millwall in the final—played at the Millennium Stadium—with captain Roy Keane collecting the prize for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side. It’s been 11 years since United last won the FA Cup, and it feels like it, too.

For a club of United’s stature, such a drought has become something of an indignity. The Red Devils have won five Premier League championships, three League Cups and even a Champions League title in the time since they last won the FA Cup. Somehow, the competition’s magic has skipped Old Trafford over the past decade.

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But now, for the first time since United’s triumph in Cardiff all those years ago, the club find themselves focussed on winning the FA Cup. The competition might have become something of an irrelevancy in Old Trafford in recent years, but not this season.

With United in transition under Louis van Gaal, following the retirement of Ferguson and the subsequent ill-fated tenure of David Moyes, United are someway short of challenging for the Premier League title. In stature, United might still be an elite club, but not on the pitch.

And so trophies like the Capital One Cup and the FA Cup have taken on an added importance at United this season, given that it might be their only chance at silverware this term. Hence a slip-up against Cambridge United on Tuesday would have changed the entire tone of the Dutchman’s first season at the club.

However, United were spared such a fate, easing into the FA Cup fifth round with a 3-0 win over the League Two side. The outcome of the tie—a fourth-round replay after a goalless draw at the Abbey Stadium—could have been very different, however, had Tom Elliott stuck away a first-minute chance to give Cambridge a shock lead at Old Trafford. He could only find the outside of the post, though, and there was to be no giant-killing.

United will now face Preston North End in the next round, with Van Gaal’s side now the favourites to lift this season’s FA Cup. The fourth-round culling of Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur has cleared the path to Wembley.

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Van Gaal said after the victory, as per Kevin Palmer of the Sunday World:

"

Every club in the FA Cup wants to win, we also. We have to beat Preston and that will not be easy—they won away against a cup fighter like Sheffield United—so it will be difficult for us to win in Preston North End. 

For the club, the fans and the coach and my staff, we want to win a title this year. The biggest chance is the FA Cup, but we still have to win four games to do that. Tonight I don’t think we played a very good match, but it is always difficult against a defensive team. We could have done better but I am pleased with the result.

"

Indeed, questions remain of Van Gaal’s methods and his famed philosophy—which amounted to peppering the Cambridge penalty area with as many crosses from the wings as possible. Against such lowly opposition, United should have been capable of better, and smarter.

The FA Cup hasn’t always been held in the highest regard at Old Trafford. United even skipped the competition in 2000 to participate in the World Club Championships, with the Red Devils winning the trophy just once in the time since. 

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This season’s competition has taken on a rather different colouring, with Van Gaal desperate to clinch the FA Cup to present tangible proof of progression under his management. After a barren year last season, United need some silverware to validate their appointment of the Dutchman.

The problem for United, though, is that both Arenal and Liverpool view the competition in the similar regard. With Arsene Wenger struggling to keep pace with Premier League pacesetters like Chelsea and Man City, the Gunners have given themselves an almighty task if they are to finish in the top four. FA Cup success could be the only thing capable of saving Wenger and his legacy.

And with Liverpool enduring a rather dismal follow-up season after their unexpected tilt on the Premier League title last year, Brendan Rodgers could use a trophy to hold aloft as evidence of how he remains the right man for an increasingly prickly job.

United have already beaten both Arsenal and Liverpool in the league this season, giving them a psychological edge ahead of any potential FA Cup meeting with either side. Although their FA Cup prospects are more dependent on tactics and formation than anything in the mind.

Van Gaal’s stubbornness in using 3-5-2, when it quite clearly does not suit the players he has, has hindered United for much of the season. Quite simply, United look a more settled side with four at the back, as demonstrated by their routine win over Cambridge United. 

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They will face much stronger opposition in the latter stages of the competition but, particularly with Paddy McNair at right-back, there were signs that a flat defence is what Van Gaal must stick with going forward. The formation 3-5-2 has failed one too many times.

There are problems in other areas of the pitch, too. For all their attacking talent, United are still short of rhythm up front, with the foursome of Angel Di Maria, Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie all searching for their individual roles within the interchangeable and dynamic front line Van Gaal envisages.

With United seeing off lower league opposition in every round up until this point, Van Gaal has denied us more evidence of the FA Cup’s mythical magic, but his assault on the competition has underlined its importance.