Report: Pep Guardiola potential candidate to replace Louis van Gaal at Manchester United

Will Pep Guardiola be Manchester United’s next manager?

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal had earlier revealed that he would definitely retire once his contract with the Old Trafford club expired. The Dutch boss still has two seasons to go, having signed a three-year contract when he joined. But he will not be involved in football come the summer of 2017.

And the 64-year-old has constantly suggested that assistant manager Ryan Giggs would take over the Red Devils’ hot seat when he retires. “I expect that he [Giggs] will be the next manager after I am gone,” Van Gaal had said in April. And more recently, he had said he spent big on Martial “for the next manager of Manchester United” while nodding at Giggs seated beside him. “I feel I am introducing the next manager of Manchester United.”

But there are reports that suggest Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola could be a potential candidate to take over, according to The Mirror. There is just one problem though. According to the report, Guardiola plans to end his stint at the Bundesliga club when the 2015/16 season concludes in May. Should he do so, United won’t be able to give him a contract unless Van Gaal leaves or is let go by the club.

Guardiola has not signed a new deal ever since he took over the treble-winning side of 2013. Since then, results have not exactly gone Bayern’s way. While they have dominated the Bundesliga, their success in cup competitions have diminished, winning lesser trophies by the year.

Difficult for this United team to reach their potential under me: Van Gaal

Louis van Gaal expects Ryan Giggs to take over when he retires in 2017

Van Gaal also spoke about his team saying it would be difficult for this young Manchester United side to reach their potential under him. If they were to do so, he said he would need more time – time he did not have.

“It would be difficult to see this team reach its potential because that would mean I would have to stay,” Van Gaal said.

But he also stressed on the importance of youth and why it was important to have youngsters instead of big stars in the squad. He referred to the failed transfer of Angel Di Maria as an example. United had spent £59.7m to sign him, only to sell him a year on to Paris Saint-Germain for £44m.

“You have seen what I have said about that – and I always do the things I have said. I am a trainer-coach who believes in youth and I believe I have a very good eye for young talent.

“Of course, it is easier to buy the big stars, but the big stars can also fail — as we have seen last year. And that is why I have always said you have to invest in young players.

“Okay, I know they are not ready yet, but that is why I have said that this team is more for my successor than for myself.”

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