Boyhood Manchester United fan Zak Whitbread aims to end Louis Van Gaal reign with Shrewsbury win

Zak on the attack: The defender will hope to inspire a famous cup upset
Matthew Ashton/AMA
James Benge22 February 2016

Zak Whitbread may have grown up supporting Manchester United but tonight he could be part of the Shrewsbury side that ends the Louis van Gaal era.

The United manager, who has seen his team lose back-to-back games against Sunderland and Danish side FC M has admitted that his tenure could come to an end if he loses to a side languishing just above the relegation zone in League 1 ahead of the fifth round FA Cup tie.

"You cannot continue with losing games," Van Gaal said. "You have to see every match as a match you have to win.

"On Monday we have to win. If we win, we are in the next round and we are capable of winning the FA Cup.

"The question is how we lift ourselves for this game because Shrewsubry will fight for the second balls and play direct and those kind of things, and you have to cope."

Despite United's recent injury crisis 31-year-old Zak Whitbread knows he will face one of the great challenges of his recent career should he come up against the likes of Anthony Martial, Memphis Depay and Juan Mata.

SHREWSBURY'S LAST FA CUP GIANT-KILLING

For all the talk of the sterile play of United in recent weeks Whitbread, who empathises with his fellow fans' frustration, is not expecting a quiet match.

"It's not a side you could compare with those of the past," he said. "The fans are unhappy with the style of play because they've been used to playing one way for so many years.

"But on any given day, Man United can turn on the style. Van Gaal or no Van Gaal, they've got special players."

Whitbread began his professional career at Liverpool but, after being released by Derby at the end of last season having rarely featured, found himself without a club until he joined Micky Mellon's side in October.

He has since signed a contract to take him to the end of the season but hopes that a good performance in tonight's game will put him in the shop window, helping him to follow in the footsteps of Joe Hart, Brentford's Ryan Woods and Connor Goldson of Brighton in a move to the upper divisions.

"Shrewsbury has been a good place to rebuild my career and enjoy my football. The club are aware I want to play as high as possible.

"I re-signed in January on the understanding if a Championship club comes in for me I can go."

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