Manchester United vs Wolfsburg preview - Van Gaal casts doubt on exit date from United

Posted Wednesday, September 30, 2015 by PA

Louis van Gaal has cast doubt on the idea that he will walk away from Manchester United in 2017 - but admits delaying his retirement would be hard on his wife.

Van Gaal insisted on United's pre-season tour that he would leave Old Trafford when his contract expires in 18 months' time.

Sir Alex Ferguson claimed last week that the Dutchman would find it hard to depart, however.

"You never know what Louis will do. When you get the bug it's hard to leave," said the former United manager, who reversed his decision to retire in 2003.

There is no suggestion Van Gaal will carry on for a further 10 years - as Ferguson did - but there was a slight hint from the Dutchman on Tuesday that his decision to retire is not yet set in stone

"Normally I shall leave after next year but what is normal in our football world? You never know so I cannot answer that question," the United manager said, on the eve of his side's Champions League meeting with Wolfsburg at Old Trafford.

"But I promised my wife to go with her to our paradise (villa in Portugal) so it shall be very hard for me to deny that promise.

"Next year I am 65 and say I stay a year longer, it shall be very hard to my wife."

Van Gaal has two main objectives before he departs for his luxury villa in Vale do Lobo. He wants to win the Champions League and the Premier League.

He has made a good start on the latter - taking United to the top of the table after seven matches.

But United started their group stage campaign with defeat at PSV. Van Gaal believes his men must now win all their home matches to qualify for the knock-out stages.

"I think in the Champions League you need to win all your home matches otherwise it shall be very difficult," said Van Gaal, who lifted the trophy with Ajax 20 years ago.

Having also won silverware with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, there is certainly no feeling from the United boss that he is not up to the job.

"That is realistic because I did it everywhere," said the 64-year-old when asked if he could win silverware with United.

"Reaching the (Champions League) final is also an aim and winning the final is a little bit luck."

Michael Carrick has been ruled out of the game against Wolfsburg through injury.

Ander Herrera and Antonio Valencia also missed the club's open training session on Tuesday, but could still feature, according to Van Gaal.

Wolfsburg's squad includes much-maligned former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, but his current boss Dieter Hecking claims the Dane has turned a corner and is keen to prove his doubters wrong on Wednesday.

Bendtner was regarded as a good young prospect when Arsenal signed him in 2004, but 10 years later he left the club having started just 41 Premier League games.

The Dane's cocksure personality made him a divisive figure among followers of the Premier League and manager Arsene Wenger loaned the player out three times.

Bendtner had a string of off the field problems too. He was fined for making an unauthorised trip to Denmark during his final year at the club, was suspended for six months by the Danish Football Federation after being caught drink driving and he was also cautioned by police two years ago for smashing a door at his Hertfordshire home.

His troubles continued at Wolfsburg, where he was made to train on his own after falling out with Hecking, but the 27-year-old scored a vital equaliser and the winning penalty in the club's DFL-Supercup victory over Bayern Munich in August and is now a key squad member according to his manager.

"He has reacted very well. I have seen that in training," Hecking said.

"He did have problems before but in his time at Wolfsburg he has come on a lot.

"Certainly in the last four to six weeks I have seen more development from him. He is on the right track. That is clear.

"He shows that in training, perhaps with less of the extravagance that he showed in England before, so I think he is on the right track and he will definitely be keen to play on Wednesday."