I could choose to quit - Van Gaal

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal said he could
"quit by myself" after Stoke City condemned his side to
a fourth straight defeat.
The Dutchman, under pressure after seven games
without a win, was asked whether he feared he would be
sacked.
"That is something I discuss with [executive vice-
chairman] Ed Woodward not you," Van Gaal told a media
conference after the game.
"It is not always the club that has to fire or sack me."
He added: "Sometimes I do that by myself, but I am the
one who wants to speak first with the board of
Manchester United and my members of staff and my
players, not with you."
United's miserable run has seen them knocked out of the
Champions League at the group stage and slip out of the
top four in the Premier League.
"I have received [the club's backing] all the time but we
have lost so there is a new situation," said Van Gaal.
"I feel the support of my players and my board. The fans
will be disappointed but that is logical after four defeats."
Van Gaal does not think it is important that Woodward
has not publicly backed him.
"For me it's much more important that people are saying
that to me," he said. "I am not so interested in public
sayings."
Van Gaal saw his side quickly go behind to goals from
Bojan Krkic and Marko Arnautovic, with United struggling
to create chances as they tried to work their way back
into the match in the second half.
"We have lost the game in the first 45 minutes because
we didn't dare to play our football. That is what I have
analysed," said Van Gaal, whose side's next game is at
home to Chelsea on Monday.
"The circumstances now play a bigger role and will in
the next game also. We have to cope with that and look
for the solution.
"It is very difficult as I'm also part of four losses and I
have to cope with that and I have to manage that. More
important is that my players shall manage that because
they have to perform."
Man Utd embarrassing - Shearer
Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer described United's
first-half performance as "pathetic".
The former England striker said: "Van Gaal decided to
take on the media this week and he picked a team he
thought would scrap for him and that was the best they
could do for him - that was embarrassing.
"On today's evidence, the players are not willing. They
put in a pathetic performance in the first half. He left his
captain out as well and that is a big statement.
"His players are without doubt not performing at all so it
wouldn't surprise me at all if he were to walk away."
But fellow pundit Danny Murphy said he believed the
Dutchman would not quit the club.
"My worry is that whoever comes in they've got a squad
lacking athleticism," said the former Liverpool and
Fulham midfielder.
"With Jose Mourinho you're guaranteed trophies and Pep
Guardiola is the same. I'm sure there will be many
meetings going on. They could do a lot worse than give it
to [assistant manager] Ryan Giggs."
'Right decision on Rooney'
Van Gaal dropped Wayne Rooney to the bench for the
game at the Britannia Stadium.
The England striker came on for the second half but
United still struggled to create chances as they went
four top-flight games without victory.
Club captain Rooney has scored just two league goals so
far this season and rarely looked like adding to that tally
at Stoke, although he did set up Marouane Fellaini for a
chance that was impressively saved by home keeper
Jack Butland.
Van Gaal added: "I thought it was the right decision [to
leave out Rooney] otherwise I would not have done it.
"We were better in the second half but then we didn't
have anything to lose."