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5 things Manchester United fans should know after missing out on Renato Sanches

By Rucker Haringey

Benfica's midfielder Renato Sanches vies with Braga's midfielder Rafa Silva during the Portuguese League football match SL Benfica v SC Braga at Luz stadium in Lisbon on April 1, 2016. Benfica wins 5-1. ( Photo by Pedro Fiúza/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Benfica's midfielder Renato Sanches vies with Braga's midfielder Rafa Silva during the Portuguese League football match SL Benfica v SC Braga at Luz stadium in Lisbon on April 1, 2016. Benfica wins 5-1. ( Photo by Pedro Fiúza/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 17: Manager Louis van Gaal of Manchester United walks off at halftime during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 Second Leg match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on March 17, 2016 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 17: Manager Louis van Gaal of Manchester United walks off at halftime during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 Second Leg match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on March 17, 2016 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images) /

3. Louis van Gaal will be back

It’s pretty clear that Manchester United have wanted to give manager Louis van Gaal every chance to survive as the club’s manager until next season and they may have finally succeeded. If United are able to scrape out a Champions League place they’re going to bring van Gaal back as they’ve planned to do all along.

This revelation may be the worst news of all for United fans. Van Gaal has made the club an exceptionally boring side to watch and lacks any of the style and verve that’s made the club famous over the years. If van Gaal were half the manager he thinks he is, perhaps United would be a Premier League dynasty once again.

The truly troubling thing from the point of view of United fans, is the lack of direction that van Gaal can provide the club long-term. The best case scenario seems to be van Gaal surviving one more season as the club’s manager. Is the plan then for him to be able to hand the role off to Ryan Giggs?

That does seem to be the only possible plan, and it shouldn’t inspire Red Devil fans with any sort of confidence. If Ed Woodward’s answer is to use van Gaal as a bridge to Ryan Giggs, he should learn to ask a different question.

Next: 2. Manchester United were used

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