Louis van Gaal’s two-year reign at Manchester United has come to an end after the Dutchman lost the respect of the dressing-room with eccentric management that extended to brutal video dissection of players’ performances, critical emails to squad members and the imposition of "straitjacket" football on the team.

Senior players have also grown exasperated by the "special treatment" afforded to German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has made just four appearances since suffering a knee injury against Sheffield United in the FA Cup in January.

Van Gaal, who led United to the FA Cup glory with Saturday’s 2-1 Wembley victory against Crystal Palace, is set to be replaced by Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford after failing to secure Champions League qualification this season.

But The Independent has been made aware that such has been the breakdown of the relationship between Van Gaal and his players this season, the 64-year-old is unlikely to have survived in charge for the final year of his three-year contract – even if a top four finish had been achieved.

From the first week of Van Gaal’s spell in charge, when he succeeded the sacked David Moyes after guiding Holland to the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup, United’s senior players have struggled to adapt to the rigid demands imposed by the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach.

Having inherited United’s summer tour of the United States from Moyes, Van Gaal was so angered by the arrangements in place – the Beverly Hills location of the team’s Los Angeles hotel in relation to the training camp and venue for the game against LA Galaxy – that a budget Holiday Inn was hired for the players to sleep close to the training ground in between morning and afternoon sessions.

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One source close to the players claims that Van Gaal’s strict regime of "training at 8.30, sent to rooms for a couple hours rest, training after lunch, back for video meetings and tactics discussion, back to rooms, supper of toast and then bed at half ten - every day for 14 days" left the squad shattered and ill-prepared for the start of the 2014-15 season, which saw United endure their worst opening to a campaign for 25 years.

But it has been Van Gaal’s refusal to alter his heavy-handed management style, honed at Ajax in the mid-1990s,that has led to his inability to foster unity behind his methods.

Under Moyes and Sir Alex Ferguson, the first-team would regularly be given a day off on a Monday following a Sunday game, but Van Gaal has insisted on his players reporting for training on Mondays, when they would sit through a video replay of the previous game.

But such was the critical nature of the analysis – ‘he would crucify players in front of each other,’ according to one source – that captain Wayne Rooney and vice-captain Michael Carrick sought out Van Gaal to urge the manager to soften his approach in order to avoid breaking the confidence of his players.

The alleged 'special treatment' of Schweinsteiger has exasperated other squad members (Getty)

Van Gaal accepted the advice and acted upon it by instead sending emails to players with clips and notes attached.

The majority of the players would not open the emails, however, knowing that inside lay a raft of criticisms, prompting a tracker to be attached to reveal when the emails had been opened.

The players have since begun to open the files on their phones, ignoring the contents, but ensuring that the email shows up as having been read.

Van Gaal’s prescriptive approach to the game has also alienated his players, with one senior figure confirming the manager’s instruction, as revealed in The Independent in February, not to shoot at goal with their first touch.

Players regard Van Gaal’s football as too slow and methodical – "they are not allowed to think for themselves" insisted one source close to the players – and the strikers have grown exasperated by seeing so little of the ball.

Players Manchester United have failed to sign under Ed Woodward Show all 11 1 /11 Players Manchester United have failed to sign under Ed Woodward Players Manchester United have failed to sign under Ed Woodward Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) United were wary of entering the race to sign Ramos last summer, knowing he could well be using their interest to land himself a bigger contract. Nevertheless, United moved for the Real captain, and sure enough his “fractured” relationship with Real president Florentino Perez was suddenly patched up and he agreed a five-year contract extension. Getty Players Manchester United have failed to sign under Ed Woodward Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund) Hummels was linked with United in the summer of 2015 after putting his Dortmund future in doubt, alerting United that he could be available as a much-needed defensive target. The Germany international elected to stay in Dortmund though, and has now ended any chance of joining United in the near future by returning to Bayern Munich. Getty Players Manchester United have failed to sign under Ed Woodward Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid) United were heavily linked with a loan move for Coentrao in United’s first transfer window under David Moyes and Ed Woodward. Things didn’t go according to plan though, and the move collapsed to leave the pair – Woodward in particular – facing criticism over his handling of the deal and his experience in the football world. Getty Players Manchester United have failed to sign under Ed Woodward Ander Herrera (Athletic Bilbao) Another player who failed to complete a move during Moyes’s reign despite appearing nailed on to do so. ‘United officials’ arrived in Spain to tie up the deal for Herrera, only to be exposed as imposters as United had not sent anyone from the club. The move collapsed, and United would later sign Herrera the following year for an inflated fee. Getty Players Manchester United have failed to sign under Ed Woodward Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona) A year before Fabregas sealed his return to England with Chelsea, United had attempted to sign the former Arsenal captain. Again, with Moyes at the helm and repeated declarations of interest, United were unable to agree a deal with Barcelona, and the Spaniard remained with the Catalans for another year before heading to Stamford Bridge and leading them to the Premier League title. Getty Players Manchester United have failed to sign under Ed Woodward Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich) Kroos had fallen out of favour under Pep Guardiola and the club made it clear that he was available for transfer. That alerted United, but despite making an official offer for the Germany international, he instead joined Real Madrid in 2014. Getty Players Manchester United have failed to sign under Ed Woodward Thiago Alcantara (Barcelona At the same time as their pursuit of Fabregas, United attempted to sign Thiago from Barcelona. The scenario was different in that Thiago had made it clear he was leaving the club after failing to see regular first-team action under the late Tito Vilanova, but the result proved the same as he chose to snub United in order to join Bayern Getty Players Manchester United have failed to sign under Ed Woodward Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) After a difficult second season in Spain, Bale’s future was under a degree of uncertainty. Rumours of player unrest and a desire to return to England were denied by Bale, but that didn’t stop United from launching a move for the Wales international. Real stood firm though and Bale remains a Real superstar, having inspired them through the Champions League semi-finals. Getty Players Manchester United have failed to sign under Ed Woodward Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) Ronaldo has always expressed his desire to “one day” return to Old Trafford after making his name there. United would certainly welcome him back with open arms, but despite hinting at moves for the Portuguese a deal has never been found and United fans continue to wait for their favourite son to return home. Getty Players Manchester United have failed to sign under Ed Woodward Neymar (Barcelona) United made no secret about their pursuit of Neymar last summer, although there is some uncertainty over whether United were serious about their interest or if it was one to appease the fans’ clamour for a big signing. Neymar was unsure about his future at Barcelona due to his concerns over the tax rate in Spain, but United failed to persuade Barcelona to sell and he remains at the Nou Camp. Getty Players Manchester United have failed to sign under Ed Woodward Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich) United’s move for Neymar came after they were told in no uncertain terms to stop trying to sign Muller because he wasn’t leaving Bayern Munich. The German was reluctant to leave the Bundesliga champions despite Van Gaal’s interest, and instead of Neymar or Muller, United ended up with Anthony Martial instead. Getty

When Rooney was dropped for the game at Stoke City on Boxing Day, the United and England captain accepted his demotion, but only after making it clear to Van Gaal that he wanted to play his natural game when he returned to the team having lost his place after following the manager’s instructions on how to play.

Van Gaal, who has earned admiration in the boardroom for promoting youngsters such as Marcus Rashford, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and FA Cup matchwinner Jesse Lingard, is also regarded within the dressing-room as having failed to control a group of different personalities.

Van Gaal is blamed by some players for allowing Schweinsteiger to "take the piss" since his injury, with the former Bayern Munich midfielder’s regular absence from the club in between games becoming a source of annoyance to many.

And Memphis Depay, the £25m summer signing who was dropped from the FA Cup final squad, is regarded as being allowed to waste his talent due to Van Gaal’s mis-management.

Depay arriving for training last December in his Rolls-Royce (Getty)

The Dutch winger was dropped to the reserves after making a mistake in the draw with Chelsea in February, but then surprised many at the club by turning up at the second string game in a Rolls-Royce.

Despite being urged to leave the car at home by senior team-mate, who warned of the negative message it would send to supporters by projecting such an ostentatious image of wealth while the team were struggling, Depay nonetheless continued to drive the same car into training.

And while Rashford is regarded as a huge positive of Van Gaal’s spell in charge, with the 18-year-old viewed as a grounded character and a "good kid," the story of one player asking the club chef to cook him two hard-boiled eggs to take home as he did not know how to boil them himself underlines the sense within the squad that too much is now done for the younger element of the team.

If Van Gaal’s departure is followed by that of Ryan Giggs, there will be sadness at the loss of the Welshman, however, who has the backing of many senior players to become the club’s manager.

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Giggs has impressed the squad with his coaching and his tactical analysis of opponents – the specific job he has been assigned by Van Gaal.

There is a belief within the squad that Giggs has kept his own counsel on Van Gaal’s approach in order not to rock the boat, but he retains the respect and admiration of the players, many of whom feel that a major rebuilding job is required to make the team competitive again.