With Jose Mourinho now at the helm, Louis van Gaal is all but a forgotten man at Manchester United.
There was hope of a brighter future when the Dutchman was unceremoniously sacked in May following a woeful two-year spell that did, admittedly, end in FA Cup success.
Those days are long gone, with Mourinho since arriving and attempting to restore United to their former glory having spent a mammoth £150 million in the summer transfer window.
And yet, somehow, nothing much has changed. United continue to struggle in the Premier League while the ‘Special One’ is under pressure to deliver.
There’s a tense atmosphere at the Theatre of Dreams as a result. With every passing week, the Red Devils’ chances of finishing in the top four – let alone challenge for the title – are fading.
Time is running out for Mourinho to find a solution and it would seem even Van Gaal is starting to worry about his former side’s form.
According to Daily Mail, the 65-year-old emailed an unnamed United employee recently to ‘check in’, asking how the players ‘are getting on’ and what the atmosphere is like in the changing room.
Why Van Gaal feels that’s his business God only knows.
Whether he received a response is also unknown, but you can guarantee replying wasn’t at the top of Mourinho’s priority list.
The 53-year-old has a few big decisions to make ahead of Saturday’s heavyweight bout against Arsenal, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended, Chris Smalling injured and Wayne Rooney expected to miss out.
A major reshuffle is required, but ask any United fan what change they want to see most and they’ll inevitably say for Marcus Rashford to start up front.
The 18-year-old scored a brace during February’s 3-2 win over the Gunners and his pace would cause their defence – which will be without speedster Hector Bellerin – all sorts of problems.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright recently called for Rashford to be played in the No.9 role and he could be made to regret it if the youngster scores against his former side.
“Why is Marcus Rashford playing on the wing? He is a goalscorer,” he told The Sun.
“He has good movement and he can finish. They’ve left him on the wing and he’s rotting out there.”