Manchester United: Louis van Gaal claims teams do not fear the Red Devils

Louis van Gaal believes that Manchester United have to get back the fear factor, something which can only come back by winning games in a row. The Red Devils have been in abysmal form this season, exemplified by their 2-1 loss to Danish side Midtjylland in the first leg of the round of 32 tie of the Europa League.

United are currently six points adrift from a place in the top four and have been hit by an injury crisis, with a flurry of first-team players unavailable for selection. For them to get back into the mix, the job has to start next weekend against Arsenal, who will be favourites coming into the fixture. The north London club had defeated the Red Devils in the reverse fixture 3-0, when an early blitz by Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil saw the hosts go three goals up within the first 20 minutes.

A loss at Old Trafford is likely to spell the end of Van Gaal's tenure at Old Trafford, with Jose Mourinho waiting in the wings should Ed Woodward decide to wield the axe on the Dutchman. The former Barcelona man has two important games to go before the battle against Arsenal, awaiting Shrewsbury in the fifth round of the FA Cup and the return leg against Midtjylland in midweek.

"When you see the last two games it is maybe like that. But then we have to make them fear [us] again because we lost the first match in the Premier League also, Swansea City, when I came," Van Gaal said on their rivals, as quoted by the Telegraph.

"But then still we had a very good home record last season and we can do that again. It is a question of winning matches in a row. You cannot continue with losing games and the question is how we are lifting ourselves for that game because Shrewsbury Town shall fight also for the second balls and play direct and that kind of thing and you have to cope with that."