Former Manchester United full-back Gary Neville has insisted that the club should stick with manager Louis van Gaal even if they fail to qualify for the Champions League this season.
Van Gaal's United side currently occupy fourth position in the league table, but their place in the top European qualifying bracket could soon come under pressure with a tough run of fixtures ahead of them.
"Louis van Gaal should not be sacked [if Manchester United don't make the top four]. It would be a terrible season for Man United and Louis van Gaal. He would probably say it was a big failure because he knows his job this season," said Neville, according to The Mirror.
"He has to get in the Champions League but, on the other hand, if he didn't, no, you can't just sack a manager one year and then sack another manager the year after. Where do you go from there?
"There has to be a level of continuity. I absolutely believe this time there will be continuity at Man United and they will stand by him even if he doesn't finish in the top four and that's the right thing to do.
"I still think Manchester United will finish in the top four. I think they will scrape in. At the start of the season I thought they'd finish third."
The Red Devils' next league encounter sees them take on visitors Sunderland on Saturday.
Christopher Dodd
