Manchester United vs Swansea: Louis van Gaal hoping to bring smiles back to Old Trafford against 'ghost team'

Van Gaal appeared close to the Old Trafford exit less than a fortnight ago but was in a defiant mood to improve results ahead of the Premier League visit of Swansea

Louis van Gaal admitted he could resign as Manchester United manager (Getty Images)

Louis van Gaal’s New Year’s resolution is to “put smiles back on the faces of the staff, players and fans” at Manchester United after a torrid run of eight matches without a victory left the Dutchman clinging to his job at the end of 2015.

Van Gaal has twice threatened to resign from his position as manager at Old Trafford, only for executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to convince him that he retains the full backing of the board and still has the players’ faith that results can be turned around this season.

United kick-off 2016 with the visit of Swansea to Old Trafford, and while the struggling Welsh outfit could be seen as the perfect opponent for United to kick-start the second half of their season, Van Gaal recognises that he has lost every match in which he has faced the Swans.

"Swansea have been what I call ‘my ghost team’ in my time, having lost all three times we have played them, meaning we are looking to start this new year with what I have been told you say in England by ‘breaking the duck’,” Van Gaal said ahead on Friday.

“We know if will be tough and know we have to be creative and take our chances if we are going to end this run without a win. And that is the aim; to put smiles back on the faces of the staff, the players and the fans.”

Van Gaal added that he was “disappointed” with the way 2015 ended for United, with a 0-0 draw with Chelsea just about keeping him afloat as United manager. The performance from United was an improvement on their recent outings in the defeats by Bournemouth, Norwich and Stoke, but he has set about delivering results in order to get the fans back behind the players in a bid to lift confidence among his squad.

"The past year was one full of mixed emotions and we did not finish 2015 on a high as we'd have hoped,” he added. “A goalless draw at home to Chelsea was disappointing, especially given the chances we had to kill the game. When you've not won for a number of games, the players' confidence is low, the support from the stands give the team that extra boost."