SUNDERLAND // Louis van Gaal conceded that Uefa Champions League qualification will be "very difficult" after a shock 2-1 defeat at second-bottom Sunderland increased the pressure on the Manchester United manager.
A late own goal from goalkeeper David de Gea at the Stadium of Light on Saturday condemned United to a first loss in the league on Wearside for 19 years.
It leaves the 20-time English champions six points adrift of the top four with 12 games remaining after a display described by captain Wayne Rooney as “not good enough”.
Anthony Martial’s 10th goal of the season pulled United level before half time, cancelling out Wahbi Khazri’s opener, but Sunderland were worthy winners.
Read more: Frustrating, but fruitful – Thomas Woods on how Anthony Martial is being developed right by Louis van Gaal
Read more: Andy Mitten on how Manchester United could only watch as Pep Guardiola and Man City forged a partnership
Read more: Richard Jolly on how Louis van Gaal has reached point of no return with Manchester United fans
Their success will intensify the uncertainty over Van Gaal's future, with speculation mounting that former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is set to replace the beleaguered Dutchman at the season's end.
Van Gaal conceded that a top-four finish is the “minimum requirement” for a club of United’s stature and vast resources.
But with that now looking increasingly unlikely, he said: “We needed so much the points, so in the circumstances we’re in, this is very disappointing. I can’t say it any other way.
“If Wayne has said it will be difficult for us to finish in the top four, then I agree with him. It’s going to be very difficult now with the gap. It’s still possible, but it’s very difficult.
“We needed to win this game. We want to be in the top four and now it will be very difficult. That’s our aim, the minimum requirement for a club like this. You can’t close your eyes to this.”
United can also qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League.
They travel to Danish side FC Midtjylland in the last 32 of the competition on Thursday and Van Gaal added: “You can say OK, that’s the other way to qualify. But there are some very good sides left in that competition.”
Van Gaal, who revealed that defender Matteo Darmian had suffered a dislocated left shoulder after being forced off before the interval, admitted that his players had failed to cope with Sunderland’s physical approach.
United have taken just six points from the last 21 available in away league games and won three of their last 13 top-flight matches.
“We couldn’t deal with the aggressive pressure from Sunderland,” Van Gaal said. “We knew the danger they posed from set plays, but we were very bad for the first 25 minutes.
“It’s not a question of being let down by the players. They want to deliver. Because they didn’t deliver today, you’re disappointed and frustrated, but we’re working together. We’re pulling at the same strings.
“Unfortunately, Darmian is a dislocation and he’s out for several weeks. We don’t have any more full-backs.”
The seeds of Sunderland’s first victory in five games were sown in the January transfer market.
Khazri, a £9 million (Dh47.9m) buy from Bordeaux, deceived De Gea to open the scoring with a third-minute free kick from an improbable position near the left-hand touchline.
The winner arrived when the United goalkeeper failed to deal with a header from Lamine Kone, a £5 million signing from Lorient, with Martial’s attempted goal-line clearance hitting the Spaniard and going in.
“Our new boys have provided the winning goals today and that’s terrific,” said Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce.
“It’s a terrific ask of these players to get this level of performance after coming in during January. They’re on their knees in the dressing room because the pace is so much quicker than they’re used to playing in France.
“It was a really good performance with the right result. We’ve got a couple of weeks break now to get some of the injured players back.
“It’s pleasing that the squad showed me it’s good enough and united enough for the big push to try to get out of the trouble we’re in.”
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission 10-speed automatic
Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
What are the influencer academy modules?
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
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Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
if you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals (more at www.hertz.com/etihad). A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
