Manchester United: Ronald de Boer expects Louis van Gaal to leave if United fail to make top four

Ronald de Boer believes that Louis van Gaal will leave Manchester United at the end of the season if his side fail to qualify for the Champions League. The Red Devils are currently struggling on fifth spot, five points adrift of Arsenal in fourth and need to string in a good run of form if they have to close the gap.

Van Gaal has been heavily criticised for inculcating a boring style of play at Old Trafford, but things are turning for the better, especially after their 3-0 win over Stoke City. The Dutchman needs his team to continue playing in that mould and if they fail to do so, then further pressure will mount on his credentials at United, which is under threat given the interest in Jose Mourinho.

However, De Boer, who is a close friend of Van Gaal, believes that it will not come to that and the 64-year-old will leave Old Trafford on his own accord if they fail to make it to Europe's top competition. Pep Guardiola's arrival at Manchester City next season has led to further doubt in the United ranks, who are desperate to address the ostensible power shift in Manchester.

"Louis realises more than anyone that a club with the status of Manchester United must at least qualify for the Champions League. If he fails to do that then he will know it is the end of the story," De Boer said, as quoted by the Mirror.

"Louis, in my eyes, is still a top-class coach and he is going to survive in Manchester. But all the criticism about the way United play is fully deserved. The organisation of the team is 100 times better than last season and tactically things are in a better shape. But there is still a big lack of entertainment, especially up front."