Louis van Gaal reportedly urged to continue despite offering to leave

Louis van Gaal has reportedly already held talks about his future with Manchester United executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward.

According to The Times, the Dutchman is considering resigning from the job, after suggesting that he may do so in the press conference that followed United's Boxing Day defeat by Stoke City. It's claimed that he has lost faith in his ability to address the club's remarkable nosedive in form and fears he is powerless to stop his United team from slipping to a fifth consecutive defeat in their Monday evening clash with Chelsea. It is believed that van Gaal indicated to the United board after last week's loss to Norwich that he was prepared to step down if they wanted him to do so, but was urged to continue. Even though United have since lost to Stoke, it appears Ed Woodward has again encouraged van Gaal to persist with the job despite the deepening crisis at Old Trafford. A defeat by Chelsea would almost certainly force the United board into some form of action. The Telegraph suggest that even a United victory will not be enough to save van Gaal from an exit from the 20-times champions of England.