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
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Your support makes all the difference.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.
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.
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
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
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