There is more than just a Uefa Champions League place and a piece of silverware on the line in Manchester United's final two games of the 2015/16 campaign.
Tuesday's 3-2 defeat by West Ham United in the last ever fixture at Upton Park means fourth spot is out of United's hands ahead of their clash with Bournemouth this weekend, which takes place six days before the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace.
Nevertheless, there is still a chance that United will secure a Champions League spot and win the Cup for the first time since 2004, which would be a major boost for the club given the state they found themselves in a few months ago. Realising those ambitions could also lead to Louis van Gaal being permitted to see out his three-year contract by remaining in charge beyond the summer.
That eventuality would have been unthinkable back in December, when United were languishing down in sixth after being beaten by Bournemouth, Norwich City and Stoke City in successive matches.
It looked to be a matter of when rather than if Jose Mourinho would replace Van Gaal at the helm, with a mid-season sacking of the Dutchman not completely out of the question.
• Read more: Louis van Gaal 'happy we are talking our opponent and not about my sacking'
• Also see: Andy Mitten on Manchester United's quiet Marcus Rashford, a potential new Ronaldo – in one way only
Things gradually turned around, though, the emergence of youngsters such as Marcus Rashford and Timothy Fosu-Mensah inspiring something of a feel-good factor around Old Trafford once more. Results picked up and, instead of fizzling out with a whimper, United’s season remains alive at the denouement stage.
It is important, however, that executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and his fellow decision-makers do not base their judgement of Van Gaal solely on the outcome of United’s next two matches.
It would, of course, be ludicrous to completely disregard the club's final position in the Premier League standings and the result of their upcoming Wembley appearance. After all, many United fans would have settled for a top-four finish and a trophy at the start of season, while virtually none would have been satisfied with ending the campaign empty-handed in fifth or sixth place.
The margins at this juncture are so fine, though, that a wider perspective must be taken when the board decides whether or not Van Gaal has done enough to continue in the job next term.
Put simply, it would be irresponsible for the club to either back or sack the 64-year-old by simply looking at a couple of scorelines, which could easily be shaped by a refereeing decision or an individual error, or simply not reflect the performance in either a positive or negative sense.
In the case of the battle for the top four, such events might not even take place in United's game: Manchester City have their fate in their own hands, but their recent form means a loss to Swansea City is not completely out of the question.
If United feel Van Gaal has made sufficient improvements to the team in recent months, they should retain his services for one more year even if United fall short in the race for Europe’s primary continental club competition or are the victims of an upset against Crystal Palace.
Likewise, if they conclude that the side has regressed and that Van Gaal’s body of work over his two years at the helm is substandard, scrambling into fourth due to Manchester City’s ineptitude and beating a team who have won only two of their last 20 Premier League matches in the FA Cup final should not deter them from seeking out a replacement.
These next two matches are hugely important for United as a club, but the results alone should not determine Van Gaal’s future.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
