Louis van Gaal's Unpopularity at Manchester United Will Be Hard to Overcome

Louis van Gaal's popularity at Manchester United has reached a new low after the Red Devils crashed out of the UEFA Champions League and fell into the UEFA Europa League following Tuesday's defeat against Wolfsburg in the Volkswagen Arena.

An injury-hit group travelled to Germany, and the Dutchman's decision to keep as thin a squad as he has done was called into question—particularly once Matteo Darmian had to be substituted.

United's current level of injuries may be on the unfortunate side, but it is hardly an unprecedented crisis. And yet, its effect on the pitch could not be more clear.

After weeks of dull, uninspiring football, the frustration among United's support was evident both at Old Trafford, where the team have been booed several times, and on social media, where a look at the "LVG Out" hashtag will yield plenty of results—albeit the language is unlikely to be suitable for the faint-hearted. 

Some of the more family friendly of those Tweets are collated by Ryan Bailey for B/R, here.

The last two games have been a whole different kind of frustrating. Neither could be called dull—there were chances aplenty on Saturday between the Red Devils and West Ham United.

Michael Sohn/Associated Press/Associated Press

The game against Wolfsburg saw both teams in attacking mood, and unlike the clash with the Hammers, that was reflected in the scoreline. However, the additional attacking potency in United's lineup came at an enormous defensive cost, evidenced by how quickly the Germans struck back when United went ahead.

Against West Ham, the frustration was in United's failure to take their chances, against Wolfsburg, it was a combination of that—it took 16 shots to get the two goals—and the fact the previously impressive defence had become so permeable again.

Van Gaal's unpopularity is not just about results, though that will always be the most telling factor. He suggested the result owed something to bad luck with the officials, which felt an extremely hollow claim given how poor United had been at PSV Eindhoven in a game that would have rendered the loss in Wolfsburg considerably less damaging.

United's failure to qualify from the group stages of the Champions League is of their own making, not the officials'.

He also indulged in what BBC sports reporter John Bennett called "the most bizarre substitution of this season's Champions League." Juan Mata, who had provided the assist for United's opening goal and made more key passes than anyone else on the pitch at that point, was replaced by Nick Powell. It was a surreal decision.

Powell's near-total lack of impact on the game was hardly surprising, and while Mata's influence looked to have dimmed slightly, it proved a regressive step to remove him from action.

The question of where Van Gaal's United go from here is the key one. There are plenty of fans who would be delighted to find the club had sacked him, but that does not seem likely. Ian Herbert of the Independent reported on Sunday that United were willing to extend his contract if the Dutchman wanted to stay beyond the end of next season. 

The manager himself insists there has been progress, though he cited going one round further in the Capital One Cup as part of his evidence—which smacked more than a little of straw clutching.

The squad has been refreshed, and many of the signings have been players who should be at the club for the long haul. Van Gaal has given debuts to plenty of youngsters, and Guillermo Varela was cited as a well deserving "winner" by B/R's Sam Tighe after the game.

In theory, Van Gaal is building for the long term. The short term, though, is difficult to watch and not particularly successful. That combination is bringing supporters to boiling point, and seeing how the club manage this situation will be absolutely fascinating. 

If Van Gaal manages to turn this season around and win silverware, his popularity will surely grow, but given the current injury picture, the ongoing problems with the side's attack and the ever-souring mood at Old Trafford, that seems an outcome only the most optimistic of United fans would expect.

All advanced statistics per WhoScored.com.