Time ticks down on van Gaal

The gloom that has been descending on Manchester United lifted a little when it beat Shrewsbury in the FA Cup on Monday, but manager Louis van Gaal remains a man facing problems.

United's manager has no margin for error as he attempts to maintain his team's chances of a European trophy when it faces Midtjylland at Old Trafford on Thursday.

United's 2-1 loss to the previously unheralded Danish champion in its Europa League round-of-32 first leg last week was a significant embarrassment for van Gaal, with the Manchester Evening News calling for him to be fired the day after the match.