No slip ups against Chelsea, van Gaal tells Man U

Louis van Gaal has challenged his Manchester United players to play “our football” against Chelsea tonight as he fights to save his job.

Following the 2-0 defeat to Stoke on Boxing Day, United have lost four consecutive games in all competitions and have not won in seven, and Van Gaal suggested after the game that he could quit.

Today’s meeting with Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea could prove decisive and the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss said he wants to see bravery from his players as they look to return to winning ways.

“You can say we can quickly get over this defeat by playing against Chelsea but, in the time in between, you have to recover because the players have given everything,” he told MUTV.

“Then you have to manage that you are very confident to start the Chelsea game, and that you dare to play football — our football! It is very difficult to do that in just two days but we shall try.

The game against Chelsea on Monday evening pits Louis van Gaal against his compatriot Guus Hiddink, his replacement as Holland coach in the summer of 2014, it is worth remembering Van Gaal’s tactical approach that took the Dutch to third place at the World Cup.

On paper, that usual approach should play into the hands of Chelsea – even if the defending Premier League champions are understandably strategically uncertain just a week into the Hiddink regime. Chelsea will surely arrive at Old Trafford determined to play on the counter-attack, particularly as Hiddink will be keen to improve Chelsea’s poor defensive organisation before concentrating on attack.