Manchester United defender Daley Blind hopes that Louis van Gaal will stay at the club despite reports emerging on Saturday evening that he is due to be replaced with Jose Mourinho.
The future of the Dutchman at Old Trafford has been a source of discussion for many months now, but it finally appears the club are to pull the plug on his tenure and bring Mourinho in.
It was widely reported on Saturday, only hours after Man United’s FA Cup victory, that a deal is agreed and the former Chelsea boss will be unveiled early next week.
This news soured the cup final win for Van Gaal, but Blind has said he was still in good spirits and stated that he wants to see the 64-year-old stay when he asked about the manager’s fate.
“Yes [Van Gaal should stay],” said Blind. “The manager was very happy afterwards, like everybody else. It is the first time I have heard that Jose Mourinho will take over. I just hope the manager stays.”
Saturday’s win over Crystal Palace at Wembley represents a dignified send-off for the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach.
It is the first trophy that United have won since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and the first time they have won the FA Cup in 12 years.
A Jason Puncheon goal put Palace in front, but Juan Mata equalised moments later to send the game to extra time.
The Red Devils did have Chris Smalling sent off in that period after receiving his second yellow card, but a superb strike from Jesse Lingard gave United and Van Gaal the win.
Mourinho was in London to watch David Haye knock out Arnold Gjergjaj on Saturdav and would not comment when, while trying to leave the O2 Arena, asked whether he had agreed to join United.
“Many congratulations,” he responded, when asked for his thoughts of Van Gaal’s FA Cup success.
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