Thursday, May 26, 2016
On Monday, English football club Manchester United sacked their manager Louis van Gaal just two days after his team won the 2015–16 FA Cup — the twelfth FA Cup victory for The Red Devils.
| I am very disappointed to be unable to complete our intended three-year plan. | ||
Appointed as the manager of the club in July 2014, Dutchman van Gaal said “I am very disappointed to be unable to complete our intended three-year plan.” This year’s FA Cup was Manchester United’s first trophy under van Gaal.
Under his management, Manchester United landed fourth and fifth in the Premier League table, and this season they missed UEFA Champions League qualification. They had 58.47% possession, the best average in the league, and eighteen cleansheets, but The Red Devils scored only 49 goals in the league, the worst they have done in more than last two decades.
Louis van Gaal was informed by Ed Woodward, Vice-Chariman of Manchester United, that the club would sack him from the managerial position. van Gaal is reportedly to receive about £6million, his annual salary, before leaving for Portugal.
In the FA Cup final versus Crystal Palace, the first half ended in a 0–0 draw. In the 78th minute Jason Puncheon scored for Crystal Palace but minutes later, Juan Mata equalised. The 90-minute mark ended with 1–1 on the score board. Chris Smalling received his second yellow card and was sent off minutes before Jesse Lingard scored the winner from a volley in the 110th minute.
With the FA Cup title, according to Woodward, Louis van Gaal has won a title in four different nations.
| May 21, 2016 | |||
| Crystal Palace | 1–2 | Manchester United | Wembly Stadium, London Attendance: 88,619 Referee: Mark Clattenburg, England |
| Jason Puncheon 78′ | 0–0 (HT) | Juan Mata 81’Jesse Lingard 110’Chris Smalling 19′, 106′ |