Louis van Gaal confident he will remain as Manchester United manager
Louis van Gaal expects to still be Manchester United manager next season, although he knows missing out on Champions League qualification would see them fall short of expectations.
The 3-2 midweek defeat at West Ham saw the Red Devils waste the chance to wrest fourth spot from Manchester City ahead of the season finale.
Van Gaal's men now need to win against Bournemouth and hope City fall at Swansea - a tough ask underlined by bookmakers' odds of 7-1 on United usurping Manuel Pellegrini's men.
Failing to reach the Champions League cost David Moyes his job two years ago and speculation is rife that the Dutchman could follow suit, with Jose Mourinho's desire to return to management only fuelling such talk.
Furthermore, Van Gaal's name was conspicuous by its absence as investors and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward sidestepped the subject of the manager's position following the announcement of United's third-quarter results.
Hours later, though, the manager remained steadfast in his belief he would be kept, bristling at the suggestion it would be harder to keep the players' concentration given they know he plans to retire at the end of next season.
"Yeah but you and your colleagues have sacked me for six months, so I have worked with these circumstances already for six months and we are still in the race," he said. "You cannot say that we are not.
"We can win the FA Cup. How many are still in the race? How many? It's not so much so.
"Of course, when we don't qualify ourselves we don't reach our aim. That is true because our aim was to qualify ourselves for the Champions League. That was our aim.
"But we are in the final of the FA Cup and we are in the race in the last match - mathematically we can qualify ourselves still. How many clubs can say that?
"Of course you can say Manchester United need to be champions - yes, I know, the expectations are like that, but I don't think that is realistic.
"I have said I shall be here, that is my opinion, so the board has to decide if it is like that. That is a different way of looking to the situation."
Adnan Januzaj will miss out against Bournemouth with a hamstring injury and Marouane Fellaini is still suspended.
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe believes Wayne Rooney's changing position in the United squad will extend his footballing career.
Van Gaal has been playing Rooney in midfield since their 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in April.
The Red Devils captain joined United in August 2004 and is just five goals away from equalling Bobby Charlton's record of 249 goals for the club but Howe believes the 30-year-old will be a hit wherever he plays.
He said: "I am a massive Rooney fan, I have been for a number of years.
"I don't think it matters what position he plays, I just think he is a really good footballer.
"You don't score the amount of goals he scores without being a top player.
"I have done similar with a few of my players [moved them into the midfield], so out-and-out number nines who you would have considered out-and-out goalscorers like Brett Pitman we ended up playing deeper.
"I think when you look at the attributes of Wayne Rooney, you look at his technical ability, his knowledge, his understanding and also players like that do not lose the habit of scoring goals no matter what position they play, they find areas to score goals on the pitch.
"I think it is a clever move and one that will prolong his career."
In December, goals from Junior Stanislas and Joshua King saw Bournemouth beat Manchester United 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium.
The Cherries have failed to do the double over any side this season and Howe knows beating United on Sunday would be the perfect end to the season.
Howe, who has no fresh injury or suspension worries, said: "It would mean everything. For us getting the double, it is about giving a good performance and making sure mentally we are where we need to be.
"The final league game of the season, it is a big game for us as well. I am expecting a good atmosphere, I am expecting a team that's wanting to win and we need to be at our best levels."
Source: PAR
