Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal appeared to suggest following the 2-0 defeat to Stoke on Saturday that he may quit the Red Devils rather than wait to be sacked.

The Dutchman said he will consider his position carefully and talk it over with the Old Trafford hierarchy before deciding on whether to act.

United are now without a win in seven games in all competitions after Stoke inflicted a third straight league defeat on Van Gaal’s beleaguered troops.

Van Gaal, having been so critical of media speculation about his future prior to the Stoke game, appeared more resigned to the fact that his time at Old Trafford could be coming towards an end in the wake of the Boxing Day defeat.

He says he will resign if he concludes it is the best course of action for the club’s benefit.

“The club doesn’t have to fire or sack me – sometimes I do it by myself,” the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager told reporters.

“I can also quit by myself, that’s something I discuss with Ed Woodward (Manchester United chief executive) and not you.

“I will speak with him first and then with my staff. I need to have a conversation but I do not need to tell you what I want to say. I am not so interested in public talking.”

Including their Champions League defeat to Wolfsburg, United have lost four successive games and when asked if he was still the right man for the job, Van Gaal conceded that questions can now be asked of him.

“It’s more difficult because I’m also part of the four matches we have lost and so people are looking at me,” he added.

Man United are 2.50 to beat Chelsea at Old Trafford on Monday. The Blues are 3.10 while the draw is 3.80.