"Give Van Gaal three years to rebuild Manchester United squad" - Roy Keane

Former Manchester United skipper Roy Keane believes that Louis Van Gaal needs two to three years to rebuild the Red Devils squad.

Keane, speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day programme after watching Van Gaal’s side exit the FA Cup following a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford, believes that the Dutchman should be given time to get things right.

“Van Gaal is going to get criticised, you’d expect that,” the former Republic of Ireland captain who won seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League during a 12-year spell at Old Trafford, said.

“Give the man a chance – two or three years.

“A lot of fans don’t quite understand how to run a football club as big as Manchester United.

“They should have given David Moyes more time but didn’t. What are they going to do? Chop and change again? Van Gaal has been in the door two minutes. It takes time. It’s literally a rebuilding job.”

The FA Cup represented Van Gaal’s only realistic chance of landing any silverware this season, but their defeat at the hands of their bitter rivals means that he must now concentrate solely on securing Champions league qualification for next season.

United currently sit fourth in the Premier League, but their run-in includes matches against Liverpool (away), Manchester City (home), Chelsea (away) and Arsenal (home).

“It would be a disaster (if United don’t finish in top four),” Keane added.

“The big problem with people at the club and ex-players is they keep looking back comparing teams from ten years ago. They have got to look forward. Focus on the players, focus on the manager… get right behind him. I still think they have enough to get in that top four.”

Credit: Kieran O'Daly/SetantaSport