Louis van Gaal could have a "great argument to put forward" to keep his job as Manchester United manager, according to former defender Rio Ferdinand.

The former England captain believes that the successful introduction of young players -- plus an FA Cup and fourth-placed finish -- would allow the Dutchman to make a case for himself. Van Gaal has said that he is grooming Ryan Giggs as a potential future manager of United -- and many of Giggs's former United teammates have argued in favour of that.

Ferdinand told talkSPORT: "If he [Van Gaal] wins the FA Cup and United finish in the Champions League [qualification places] he could sit there and say that is progression."

United are in the FA Cup final, against Crystal Palace on May 21, and are five points adrift of the top four in the Premier League with a game in hand.

Marcus Rashford (left)has impressed as one of Manchester United's young squad members. Alex Morton - The FA/The FA via Getty Images

They have frustrated many fans with their style of play, but the team have recently showed more signs of fluency, when defeating Everton 2-1 in the FA Cup semi-final and triumphing 2-0 against Crystal Palace in the league.

Ferdinand added: "Speaking to people at Manchester in and around the ground and supporters around the country, they are not playing the type of football they are accustomed to seeing at Manchester United. They want to see football that is respectful of their history of the club. It has been a lot of sideways, sideways football.

"But I watched the game at the weekend [against Everton] and, if that is a sign of things to come, then Louis van Gaal has got a great argument to put forward.

"This season has been a bit doom and gloom for Manchester United with the way they have played, but Louis van Gaal's legacy -- if he is going to have one when he leaves -- is the introduction of all these young boys, with [Marcus] Rashford leading the charge."