Van Gaal under scrutiny as Swansea visits Man United

Reuters

Louis van Gaal.

It speaks volumes about Manchester United’s current plight that a 0-0 draw at home against a team languishing just above the Premier League’s relegation zone represents an encouraging sign of progress.

That’s how far a mighty club has fallen, with the stalemate with Chelsea on Monday appearing to give some breathing space for under-pressure manager Louis van Gaal.

Lose to manager-less and relegation-threatened Swansea at Old Trafford on Saturday, though, and United will put Van Gaal even closer to the brink.

The record 20-time English champions are winless in their last eight games in all competitions, marking their worst run of form since 1990, and have collected only three points from their last six league games.

“If anything, we are all playing for our own futures as well,” United defender Chris Smalling said, with the team having fallen five places adrift of the Champions League places.

On paper, Swansea looks the ideal opponent for United to get back to winning ways.

“Inside of the club, the players are willing to fight for every meter, the manager is willing to fight, the members of staff are willing to fight and the board is very confident in the staff and the manager,” Van Gaal said.