Most clubs In the Premier League would be happy in fifth place at the Premier League table - ten points behind first place Leicester City with lots of soccer left - but Manchester United is not most clubs. An early exit from the Champions League and inconsistency in league play, have forced manager Louis van Gaal to field questions about his future with the club.

Rumors surrounding van Gaal reached a peak this week, when the Dutch manager offered to resign from his duties at Old Trafford following United's 1-0 defeat to Southampton on Saturday, according to Jamie Jackson.

Manchester United executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward convinced van Gaal to re-consider leaving the club on Sunday and to discuss the matters with his family. Woodward is keen to keep van Gaal with the club because he doesn't want to name a new manager mid-season, according to the Guardian.

When van Gaal was asked about the report, he quickly shut down the rumors.

"I don't think I have mentioned that ever," Van Gaal said, according to Dan Roan.

A defensive van Gaal went on to question the legitimacy of the report: "And I think that you make your own stories, and then I have to answer your stories. I am not doing that because I think it is awful and horrible."

The loss to Southampton was United's first since Boxing Day; however, van Gaal expressed disappointment in himself after getting jeered by United supporters as he left the pitch on Saturday, according to Jamie Jackson.

"I'm very disappointed I cannot reach the expectations of the fans. They have, or they had, great expectations of me, and I cannot fulfill them, so I am very frustrated," Van Gaal said.

To add fuel to the fire, ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has experience managing under a microscope and has been rumored as a replacement for van Gaal.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger came to the defense of his rival manager when asked about the situation at Old Trafford in December. "I personally have a huge respect for Louis van Gaal and I think what is going on there is disrespectful," Wenger said, according to the Daily Mail.

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.