Manchester United vs Crystal Palace: Louis van Gaal has an amazing record in cup finals

The under-pressure manager has a fine track record when it really matters

Louis van Gaal (Getty)

Manchester United fans fearing an FA Cup upset this weekend can take solace in Louis van Gaal's excellent record in cup finals.

United are the strong favourites when they play Crystal Palace - a club that has never won a major trophy and is making just their second appearance in an FA Cup final.

However it's been a tough season for the Red Devils which saw them ousted from the top four, meaning confidence is not as high as it could be.

But a look at Van Gaal's record in cup finals suggests that United fans should be hopeful of emerging from Wembley victorious.

During his career spanning clubs including Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich the Dutchman has contested seven major cup finals and lost just twice. He's lifted the domestic cup in the Netherlands, Spain and Germany plus won the Uefa Cup and Champions League with Ajax. Van Gaal's only two defeats came in the Champions League - in 995/96 with Ajax and 2009/10 with Bayern.

Louis van Gaal after winning the German Cup in 2010 (Getty)

That win percentage of 71.4 per cent puts Van Gaal among the most successful of the top managers currently working.

Jose Mourinho, who has been in 12 cup finals, and Pep Guardiola who has been in six, have a slightly better win percentage.with 83.3.

The only manager among the current top coaches in the game with a better win percentage in cup finals than that is Carlo Ancelotti, who has a win percentage of 85.7.

Van Gaal's rival manager on Saturday will be Alan Pardew. The Crystal Palace manager has made just a solitary appearance in a major cup final as a coach - with West Ham in 2006. He lost that to a Steven Gerrard inspired Liverpool.

Alan Pardew pictured in the 2006 FA Cup final (Getty)

MANAGERIAL RECORDS IN CUP FINALS...

Louis van Gaal

TOTAL FINALS: 7

TOTAL WINS: 5

TOTAL LOSSES: 2

WIN PERCENTAGE: 71.4

Wins...

Netherlands Cup: 1992/93 with Ajax

Champions League: 1994/95 with Ajax

Uefa Cup: 1991/92 with Ajax

Copa del Rey: 1997/98 with Barcelona

German Cup: 2009/10 with Bayern Munich

Losses...

Champions League: 1995/96 with Ajax and 2009/10 with Bayern Munich

Alan Pardew

TOTAL FINALS: 1

TOTAL WINS: 0

TOTAL LOSSES: 1

WIN PERCENTAGE: 0

Wins...

None

Lossses...

FA Cup final: 2005/06 with West Ham

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew gestures during the FA Cup semi-final against Watford (Getty)

Carlo Ancelotti

TOTAL FINALS: 7

TOTAL WINS: 6

TOTAL LOSSES: 1

WIN PERCENTAGE: 85.7

Wins...

Champions League: 2002/03 and 2006/07 with AC Milan and 2013/14 with Real Madrid

Copa Italia: 2002/03 with AC Milan

FA Cup: 2009/10 with Chelsea

Copa del Rey: 2013/14 with Real Madrid

Losses...

Champions League: 2004/05 with AC Milan

Jose Mourinho

TOTAL FINALS: 12

TOTAL WINS: 10

TOTAL LOSSES:

WIN PERCENTAGE: 83.3

Wins...

Taca de Portugal: 2002/03 with Porto

Uefa Cup: 2002/03 with Porto

Champions League: 2003/04 with Porto and 2009/10 with Inter Milan

FA Cup: 2006/07 with Chelsea

League Cup: 2004/05, 2006/07 and 2014/15 with Chelsea

Coppa Italia: 2009/10 with Inter Milan

Copa del Rey: 2010/11 with Real Madrid

Losses...

Taca de Portugal: 2003/04 with Porto

League Cup: 2007/08 with Chelsea

Pep Guardiola

TOTAL FINALS: 6

TOTAL WINS: 5

TOTAL LOSSES: 1

WIN PERCENTAGE: 83.3

Wins...

Copa del Rey: 2008/09 and 2011/12 with Barcelona

Champions League: 2008/09 and 2010/11 with Barcelona

German Cup: 2012/13 with Bayern Munich

Losses...

Copa del Rey: 2010/11 with Barcelona