United’ 12th FA Cup triumph might not save lVG’s job
louis van Gaal had little time to savor delivering Manchester United's first trophy since the Alex Ferguson dynasty ended three years ago.
Within an hour of collecting the FA Cup after Saturday's victory over Crystal Palace, Van Gaal left his jubilant players to be faced with more uncertainty about his United future now the season is over.
For six months United has not challenged the veracity of reports that the American ownership will ditch Van Gaal before his third season in charge and bring in Jose Mourinho. United's leadership still remained silent on Saturday, rather than publicly backing Van Gaal.
Just before Van Gaal entered the Wembley Stadium news conference after the 2-1 victory over Palace in extra time, fresh reports emerged that Mourinho's hiring was inching closer.
"I don't want to talk about leaving," Van Gaal responded when it was highlighted that United hasn't denied it plans to recruit Mourinho.
Mourinho did not comment when approached by reporters at a boxing event in london on Saturday.
Van Gaal had the air of a manager on the way out during a combative exchange with reporters at Wembley. The 64-year-old Dutchman delivered a defense of his United reign and claimed internal restrictions prevented him from achieving more this season. United failed to achieve its ultimate goal of Champions league qualification after finishing fifth in the Premier league.
Asked about targets for next season if he stayed in charge, Van Gaal responded: "That's dependable because also last season I have asked for players but you don't think that the players I have asked (for) have come."
"I need the players that I have asked (for)," he said. "I have said I want creative, fast wingers ... and we didn't do that because it was not possible."
Clicking his fingers, Van Gaal said: "You are thinking everything is possible at Manchester United. No. I'm sorry. It is not."
Nor does winning the world's oldest football cup competition necessarily guarantee keeping your job.
What Van Gaal has done — largely due to injuries — is adhere to the club's traditions of utilizing academy graduates. One produced the winning moment in extra time as Jesse lingard netted five minutes after United was reduced to 10 men in the 135th FA Cup final.
The Palace defense only half-cleared Antonio Valencia's cross and lingard volleyed into the top corner of the net to complete United's comeback.
"I don't want to speak about louis van Gaal leaving," Rooney said. "He's still our manager and it's a bit unfair after we've just won the FA Cup to speak about him as if he isn't here. He's a good manager. I'm grateful he's helped us win this FA Cup."
United showed the fighting spirit often lacking under lVG to provide a winning end to the campaign.
Alan Pardew won't. The Palace manager produced a giddy jig on the touchline after Jason Puncheon put the london club ahead in the 78th minute. But within three minutes, Rooney waltzed through the Palace defense before whipping in a cross that Juan Mata equalized from.
Fortune seemed to favor again at the end of the first period of extra time when Chris Smalling received a second yellow card for a rugby-style tackle, grabbing Yannick Bolasie's right leg.
Smalling saw red but United kept its cool, with lingard striking in the 110th minute to deny Palace a first major trophy.
It is the first time United has won the FA Cup since 2004 — one of 38 major trophies Ferguson won as manager from 1986 to 2013. Van Gaal has managed to end the club's rare trophy drought, and lVG has titles in four countries in management.
It's over, says Van Gaal
louis van Gaal left the squad's hotel on Sunday saying "it's over" amid reports he was about to be replaced by Jose Mourinho.
Dutch boss Van Gaal was greeted by waiting Red Devils fans following United's FA Cup final win over Crystal Palace at Wembley on Saturday.
When asked by a Sky Sports reporter if he had time to talk, Van Gaal replied: "It's over."
Whether that meant he had been sacked by United was not immediately clear. But the 64-year-old former Netherlands manager's brief remark will fuel speculation he is on his way out of Old Trafford.