A report on Sunday afternoon claimed that the Manchester United manager had failed to turn up for training on Sunday, suggesting that he had been fired and that assistant manager Ryan Giggs had stepped in, at least on a temporary basis.

But he was pictured at the team's hotel, The Lowry, on Sunday night as the squad came together to prepare for the match against Chelsea on Monday night.

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Many fans and pundits inferred from Van Gaal's absence at training that he had been relieved of his duties, but with the Dutchman being at the team hotel it seems that he is being given one more chance to turn things around - or at least if not one more chance, then one more match in charge before leaving his role after just under 18 months in charge.

Any sacking could very likely not be confirmed until Monday afternoon in any case: United's managerial announcements have long been timed so as to abide to the rules regarding their listing on the New York Stock Exchange, and that market will not be open again until 2.30pm GMT on Monday 28th December.

And while Van Gaal looks set to guide the team against Chelsea, his job is far from secure.

Van Gaal had already been under intense pressure over his future at United before Christmas, but a 2-0 defeat by Stoke on Boxing Day plunged his prospects of remaining in his job still further.

United are still sixth in the table and only nine points off leaders Leicester City, but they had been in decent shape until three defeats in as many games.

That sequence of results, allied to the team's agonisingly drab approach on the pitch, has turned the occasional call for Van Gaal's sacking into a widespread howl from fans - and with the manager failing to show up on Sunday, many assumed that the manager has already been given the news.

Those assumptions now look premature, with Van Gaal even posing happily - or at least not unwillingly - with fans as he arrived at The Lowry with his players.

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