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Louis van Gaal will walk away from Manchester United if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

We revealed last week that the Dutchman faces the axe if United finish the season outside the Premier League’s top four.

But now Van Gaal’s close friend, Ronald de Boer, has predicted the 64-year-old will leave Old Trafford of his own accord if the Reds’ European hopes come to nothing.

De Boer said: “Louis realises more than anyone that a club with the status of Manchester United must at least qualify for the Champions League.

“If he fails to do that then he will know it is the end of the story.

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“Louis, in my eyes, is still a top-class coach and he is going to survive in Manchester. But all the criticism about the way United play is fully deserved.

"The organisation of the team is 100 times better than last season and tactically things are in a better shape. But there is still a big lack of entertainment, especially up front.”

Few people inside football know Van Gaal better than De Boer.

They became close when De Boer was coming through the youth ranks at Ajax —Van Gaal would drive him into training every day, along with his twin brother, Frank.

Ronald de Boer, who had a glittering career with Ajax, Barcelona and Glasgow Rangers, is now a youth-team coach at Ajax, where Frank is manager.

(Image: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

He speaks to Van Gaal on a regular basis – but that has not stopped him casting a critical eye over United.

He said: “Louis has very few players who can make the difference at United. When I look at Bayern Munich, for example, they have a player in almost every position who really stands out.

“At United, I can only see Ander Herrera trying to be creative. I would make him the playmaker in the team.

“Anthony Martial started really promising, but like most teenagers he has suffered a setback, while Memphis Depay has been very unstable. Juan Mata is just not good enough to carry the team when it comes to attacking. He is more the type who has to work for the real big players.

(Image: Action Images via Reuters)

“Louis is happy that Wayne Rooney is finally showing touches of his old class, and Bastian Schweinsteiger can still be a solid force in midfield. But, all in all, it is not enough for a big club like Man United.”

De Boer also says Van Gaal should stop picking fights with journalists.

“There is no point fighting the media, but I see how Louis sits there in press conferences trying to defend himself,” he said. “I can see his point sometimes, but when you go and work in the Premier League you know you have to deal with those kind of things.”

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