Louis Van Gaal's Manchester United Future Reportedly Hangs on Stoke Game

Louis van Gaal's future as Manchester United manager reportedly rests on the Boxing Day clash at Stoke City, where defeat could spell the end of his reign at the Old Trafford helm.

The Red Devils are without a win in six games and Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to Norwich City was the club's third consecutive loss.

According to the Mirror's David McDonnell, the board wishes to stick with the Dutchman, but concedes a fourth straight defeat "would make his position untenable."

The back page of Monday's Daily Mirror intensified the pressure on Van Gaal, with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and Bayern Munich chief Pep Guardiola pictured as possible replacements, per the BBC's Nick Sutton:

A significant factor in Van Gaal's future with the Premier League giants is the availability of ex-Blues manager Mourinho, who was sacked by the west London outfit last Thursday. The Sun supported the notion Mourinho could step into Van Gaal's position if he gets the chop:

Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer drew comparisons between the two managers, writing in his Sun column on Monday that Van Gaal has "lost the dressing room" at Old Trafford, as Mourinho allegedly did at Chelsea:

"

There is a collective lack of effort in my opinion. A lack of energy, spirit, in fact everything Manchester United used to be about. It needs to be re-energised and quickly, because they are on an alarming downhill slide. Were the club to decide Van Gaal cannot arrest it, would Mourinho be the perfect fit?

Only in football can you lose a dressing room at one club and walk straight into another job where the previous man had done the same. That’s the madness of football. Yet I believe Mourinho will have learned from his Stamford Bridge meltdown and be an even better boss.

"

Mike Whalley of the Telegraph suggested Van Gaal has slightly longer to salvage his future, which he said hinges on the trip to Stoke and the home fixture against Chelsea just two days later.

Tancredi Palmeri of beIN Sports even goes so far as to suggest there has already been contact between United and Mourinho, despite Van Gaal's presence at the club:

Taking a result from the Britannia Stadium will be no easy feat for United in their current vein of form—especially considering Mark Hughes' side have already beaten Manchester City and Chelsea at home this term.

The Red Devils have failed to win either of their last two Premier League trips to face the Potters and will be low on morale following the Canaries defeat, although Van Gaal told Sky Sports he remains confident in his position:

Van Gaal's examination doesn't end there, though, and while 15th-placed Chelsea might have looked like early prey not long ago, the west Londoners seem to have been rejuvenated since Mourinho's departure.

The reigning Premier League champions defeated Sunderland 3-1 in their first outing since axing Mourinho and ended their three-match winless Premier League streak as a result.

Jon Super/Associated Press

The Daily Mail's Ian Ladyman noted Van Gaal's uncertainty puts assistant manager Ryan Giggs in a difficult position, considering it was him being considered to eventually take over from the veteran manager.

The Welshman may be called upon to take those reins on a temporary capacity sooner than expected as United consider their options ahead of a Christmas run-in that could drastically change their season.