Manchester United are through to the next round of the FA Cup and despite being just three points from Champions League football their goal difference is just 7 compared with the 18 of both Spurs and Man City. In short they need to score more goals than they concede and with an ironic cheer from supporters greeting the sides first chance, and the penalty to win the match barely more, that is easier said than done.
Sheffield United will be disappointed not to have got something from the match and despite playing virtually everyone behind the ball a club like Manchester United should be able to fashion more chances than they did.
Whilst it is difficult sometimes to feel the magic still exists in the FA Cup when the so-called minnows deploy teams with more household names that the big guns, this accusation cannot be leveled at van Gaal who did not send out the academy, his starting XI was arguably his strongest.
United will be relieved to win the match and move on with bigger challenges to come. The prospect of missing out again on the Champions League next season will surely not go down well with sponsors and it is difficult to see fans having much sympathy should van Gaal be forced out after that performance in front of the loyal support.
A report in the Daily Star suggests that the bosses have changed their tone where it comes to van Gaal and that the Manchester United manager is on notice to improve the team or move aside. The Star suggests that bosses may go back on assurances that he would be given time to make improvements despite a poor run of form.
United face trips to Newcastle and then to Liverpool and it remains to be seen if these matches prove defining moments for van Gaal as manager of Manchester United.
Source: DSG
