Louis Van Gaal plans for long stay at Manchester United

Louis Van Gaal won’t be going elsewhere after Manchester United. But if he has his wish, he won’t be going anywhere for a very long time.

Van Gaal is two-thirds of the way through his first season of a three-year contract as he plots a revival of United’s fortune.

And he has hinted that he would happily stay for longer at Old Trafford if the club is pleased with his work.

“I can confirm this will be my last job but there could be five years to go yet,” he says.

“I can extend my contract. You never know. You always have to be in the moment and then you can decide.

“I’m in a situation where I signed for three years because you can build something up in that time, and the club agreed with that.

“I don’t know how I would react in the circumstances when Manchester United asks me to extend, and if I shall do that. But this is my last club.”

Van Gaal was linked with a move to

Liverpool in 2012 as a Director of Football and met with club officials.

But nothing came of it and eventually Brendan Rodgers took the job as manager with nobody above him.

Those two will be in opposite dug-outs when United travel to Anfield for a pivotal Premier League fixture this lunchtime, but Van Gaal is not keen to dwell on the past.

His focus is to make sure he keeps United one step ahead of their main rivals in the battle for a Champions League place.

He has already had two victories over them in his time at United, but he doesn’t expect that to have any bearing today.

“I spoke to Liverpool and it was very pleasing to be linked,” he reveals.

“But that is not so interesting any more. It’s not good to re-open things that are in the past.

“I’m the manager of Manchester United, the No. 1 club in England, but Liverpool also has a very good record in history.

“But I’m the coach of United. I can only speak about Liverpool as an opponent and not as a club of mine.

“When I see the players Liverpool have, I am not surprised they have recovered. I was more surprised when they were under their level. Now you can see they have a very good team.

“We’ve beaten them twice but every game is different. The circumstances are not the same as the game at Old Trafford or in America in pre-season.”