Van Gaal Under Pressure To Get The Right Result In Germany

-Nate Hyatt

   Manchester United are 90 minutes away from tumbling out of a competition they’ve paid 250+ million to get back into from a group they were projected to win handily. Fortunes have not shined on the Red Devils in the last couple of months. Happy, festive fans have been hard to come by in December, as have the goals that bring that festive cheer. Supporting a club in change and transition is never easy. But, United are also 90 minutes away from topping their group and moving onto the knockout stages of Europe’s elite competition. Such are the razor thin margins Louis Van Gaal and his squad will be operating in at the Volkswagen Arena on Tuesday night.

Injuries to top players have decimated the squad in so much that even the youth-trusting Van Gaal has had to add a few more to cover the spaces in his senior squad. There have been cries since the summer that United do not have enough cover in certain positions. It looks like they have been proved correct. Even the injured Wayne Rooney might be a happy sight for some fans eagerly ready for his departure. 

With reports emerging that Van Gaal’s job is safe no matter the outcome of Tuesday’s match, the Dutchman has still insisted that this match is his biggest yet at United. He is correct. During a spell last Spring in his first season in charge, Van Gaal led United to attacking displays of football against Spurs, City, and Liverpool that United fans have dreamed of since hoisting the title in 2012/13 – United fans were in dream land. Watching those matches at the time, you could say the displays came somewhat out of nowhere. United fans are hoping something similar happens in Germany. Should United be knocked down into the Europa League, questions must be asked of the manager.

United fans have had little to celebrate in a strange Premier League season. No team has taken the league by the throat as Chelsea did last term. At this point in the season only 9 points separate 1^st place from 8^th place. At this point last season, 9 points separated 1^st place from 4^th place. This is a season where United fans, who know what they’re seeing, see a league ripe for the taking. Instead of snapping it up, United have bored their fans amid their own frustration. The manager and a couple of players have called this a spell the club will come through, although those usually last for a few matches, not a few months. United scored 4 goals in the month of October, followed by 6 goals in November. They’ve yet to score a goal in December, a fact that many hope will drastically change on Tuesday night.

After participating in their 3rd Champions League final in four years in the 2010/11 season, United were dumped out of the competition in the group stage during the next season. A 2-1 loss at St. Jakob-Park to FC Basel meant United’s European progression would be through the lower competition. The players, and manager, said all the right things about wanting to win the Europa League, but United have always been meant for bigger things. They were eventually knocked out by Ander Herrera’s Athletic Bilbao. Oh how United could use their Spanish talisman right now. A hamstring injury is keeping him sidelined currently.

Wolfsburg are a tough opponent at home. They hadn’t lost at the Volkswagen Arena in 29 matches coming into the weekend, but a late goal from former United man, Shinji Kagawa saw Dortmund run out winners 2-1. United could use the hard working, creative Japanese International right now as well. Former United manager, Alex Ferguson saw something in him that never fully materialized under Moyes and he was never given a full chance with Van Gaal.

No matter the record Wolfsburg carry at home (which is really good).  No matter United’s record away from Old Trafford (which isn’t great). No matter United’s goal scoring numbers this season (which aren’t great either). No matter the injuries United have to deal (it’s a lot of injuries to key players). It doesn’t matter. Louis Van Gaal will be judged on his ability to produce a fine performance in Germany to see United progress and put the boo boys behind him, even if only temporarily.