Louis van Gaal Admits He Gets 'Bored' as Michael Owen Predicts End Might Be Near

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has admitted his team even bore him sometimes. Former Red Devils striker Michael Owen has also claimed he doesn’t feel as though the Dutchman has much time left before he's given the chop.

United have drawn plenty of criticism this year for their stodgy style of football, which was on show again for much of their 1-0 FA Cup win against Sheffield United on Saturday before a late Wayne Rooney penalty spared their blushes.

It was a game in which the Old Trafford crowd made their own feelings known on the matter with some ironic cheering when their side had a pop at goal.

Van Gaal has admitted his team can be a frustrating watch at times, per Daniel Taylor of the Guardian:

"

There are matches that I have enjoyed very much. Against Chelsea I enjoyed it but the result was 0-0 and we could have lost. There are also matches where I’m very bored or angry because we are not disorganising our opponent’s defence but that is football. It’s not every match that every club is playing fantastically, football that attracts the people.

They have been ironic [against Sheffield United] but that’s an expression of the fans and that’s good. The players were frustrated and the fans were frustrated. But the fans also have to know we can’t always play fantastic football and that was also the case in former days when it didn’t happen. I’m sorry about that, but it is like that.

"

Clive Mason/Getty Images

It’s a conservative style of play supporters aren’t used to. While Saturday’s side was bristling with attacking talent and quality players, they consistently took the easy option in possession. Ingenuity on the ball, driving at opponents and roaming from positions is so scarce in the final third for United.

As we can see courtesy of BBC Sport, the manner in which Van Gaal’s side have started recent matches has been poor:

For some, this trait should have already cost the Dutchman his job. Owen, who played for United between 2009 and 2012, doesn’t feel as though we’re far from reaching that stage.

“It can't continue the way it's going,” he said, per Kieran Gill of the Daily Mail. “Another defeat, or another couple of defeats, and I think the board will have a decision to make.”

At the moment, things couldn’t be going much worse for Van Gaal. Often, a manager will justify less adventurous football by pointing to results, while cavalier managers can justify poor points returns with their entertaining style. But, as has been the case with United in recent weeks, when you have neither, unrest is inevitable.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

As ESPN FC’s Alex Shaw noted in the aftermath of United’s win over the Blades, the fanbase is currently in a concerning malaise:

"

A mark of the state Van Gaal has this United side in when a late goal to win a cup match is met with a shrug, groans and apathy.

— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawESPN) January 9, 2016"

The manager seems to be aware of that fact, and in games to come, it’s imperative his team show something different.

The Red Devils travel to Newcastle United on Tuesday and, crucially, bitter rivals Liverpool on Sunday. If the same football remains and wins don’t follow suit in those matches, it’ll get to a point where some decisive action needs to be taken.