The FA Cup visit of Sheffield United on Saturday is the perfect chance for the United manager to further blood one of the club's most exciting talents
After successive losses to Bournemouth, Norwich and Stoke over the festive period, it looked like Louis van Gaal’s first port of call in the new year would be a trip to the job centre.
Manchester United had turned in a series of turgid performances as they struggled for goals and went eight games without a win, as the squad looked like they’d thrown in the towel on their manager.
The fact that Jose Mourinho was freshly out of work just added more fuel to the fire.
But an improved performance against Chelsea and a win against Swansea has convinced the board to stick with what they’ve got – at least for now.
Although the Red Devils are showing some more signs of life of late, Van Gaal cannot afford to let up against Sheffield United in the FA Cup.
And that’s not least because of the Dutchman’s wretched record in cup competitions at Old Trafford.
The 4-0 loss to MK Dons at the start of his reign was an early low point, but his side haven’t impressed in knock-out football too much since.
They were taken to a replay by Cambridge in the FA Cup last year and surrendered meekly to Middlesbrough in this season’s Capital One Cup.
In the week where Joel Glazer wielded the axe at his NFL team, firing Lovie Smith at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after just two seasons, Van Gaal will realise that a cup run will be crucial to his hopes of making it through to the end of the season.
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The Dutchman is well aware that the Red Devils have not lifted the FA Cup since 2004, with senior players Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick’s trophy cabinets still missing a winners’ medal from the world’s most prestigious cup competition.
The Blades, meanwhile, have upset pedigree in the FA Cup third round – knocking out Premier League Aston Villa and QPR at this stage in the previous two seasons – so will not be overawed by the Saturday tea-time trip to Old Trafford.
You can therefore expect Van Gaal to take no risks with his team selection and trust in his big guns to do the business against the League One opposition.
Van Gaal was forced to blood a number of youngsters during the club’s woeful run in November and December, and he will fear that another bad result could hamper the confidence and development of the latest batch of Carrington hopefuls.
One exception may be midfielder Andreas Pereira, who netted twice for United’s under-21 side against Tottenham on Monday night.
The Brazilian playmaker shone in the Capital One Cup win over Ipswich in September, but has yet to be fully trusted in the Premier League.
Two-footed, a free-kick specialist and able to play in a number of attacking roles, the 20-year-old has perhaps been the player that United have been crying out for this season.
And if Van Gaal is brave enough to give him the nod, Pereira could just be the wildcard that the Dutchman needs to hang onto his job.
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