‘Up until Christmas, Ed Woodward was calling Louis van Gaal a genius’

Word from inside 'a very small circle' at Old Trafford is that no decision has been reached on a new manager.

Louis van Gaal is not going anywhere. Not yet anyway. The Dutchman has often looked down and out while, for the rest of the time, has been struggling on the ropes. The high point of the season came after 13 games as United led the league but injuries and wretched form scuttled any title ambitions. United have now reached the FA Cup final and a late stumble, or five, from Arsenal has given them every chance of claiming a Champions League spot. Were United to claim that cup and finish in the top four, van Gaal could make a strong claim on seeing out his three-year contract. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/724520542838132740 Speaking on Newstalk's Off The Ball, last night, Andy Mitten revealed Jose Mourinho is the favourite to replace van Gaal but Ryan Giggs still holds management ambitions. Mitten, who has covered the club for almost three decades, says van Gaal's exit is far from a foregone conclusion. He said:

"Ed Woodward has been very careful to say almost nothing [this season]... I know he has been concerned about the lack of goals and the style of football but until Christmas he was calling Louis van Gaal a genius."

United's chief executive is not keen to repeat the David Moyes fiasco - when the manager knew of his departure via the press - and will hold off on making any decisions until the end of this season. Still, Mitten argues, that does not mean United have not checked out alternatives.