Louis van Gaal Downplays Manchester United Title Hopes, Talks Ryan Giggs, More

This season will be Manchester United’s third in a row without winning the Premier League title, according to their manager Louis van Gaal.

As reported by the Manchester Evening News (h/t Samuel Luckhurst of the Daily Mirror) the Dutchman was speaking at a fan event on Wednesday evening at Old Trafford and despite only being four games into the 2015-16 term, ruled out the Red Devils' chances of winning the ultimate prize.

“Van Gaal told assembled supporters he expected the team to finish second or third this season, but compete in all three cup competitions, leaving him with one campaign to give supporters a title before he retires,” per Luckhurst’s piece.

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When quizzed on who the man to replace him would be, Van Gaal reaffirmed that his current assistant and club legend Ryan Giggs would be the next manager. That was also reported by James Robson of the Manchester Evening News, but he suggested that the Dutchman may not be tasked with anointing his successor:

Van Gaal also talked about the five best players he has worked with, insisting that despite his illustrious career, two are on the books at Manchester United right now: Wayne Rooney and Bastian Schweinsteiger. The other three were named as Ronald De Boer, Luis Figo and Philipp Lahm.

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With Rooney and Schweinsteiger in situ, you’d expect Van Gaal to be a little more bullish about his team’s chances of Premier League success. Granted they are already five points back on an imperious Manchester City team, but there are 34 games still to be played this season and as the campaign rumbles on, the Red Devils will surely only get better.

But as noted by former England international striker Stan Collymore, even if the team improves, the squad assembled by the Dutchman doesn’t look as though it’s equipped to compete with the likes of City and holders Chelsea:

Indeed, you suspect another summer of substantial spending will be in order next year if this team are to get into the right kind of shape to finish top of the pile.

If Van Gaal is to retire at the end of 2016-17, you can bet he’ll be doubly determined to finish off with a flourish. But it’s also important some kind of continuity is instilled if the club is going to challenge for the biggest prizes after his reign comes to an end.

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Perhaps that’s why Giggs is being tipped to step into the Dutchman’s shoes. He’s a man who certainly knows the club inside out and would be a popular choice with the fans. But as United writer OffsideLiam noted, he’s still green when it comes to managerial experience:

The last time a departing United manager in Sir Alex Ferguson chose his successor, David Moyes, things didn’t go particularly well, with the latter sacked less than a season into the job. Giggs seems to be being schooled to take on the role eventually, but if he does get it, it’s unlikely to be on the say-so of Van Gaal, who is only entering his second season at Old Trafford.

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Van Gaal is an ambitious character and although publicly he may have implied otherwise, will preserve some hopes of going all the way in the Premier League. The Dutchman still has the best part of two seasons to etch his name into the Old Trafford honours list, but with a squad that is imbalanced at his disposal, will have to draw on all his managerial experience if that’s to happen.