four hopes were suddenly back in their own hands after Manchester City slipped up at Southampton

RIVA DEL GARDA, Italy -- Bayern Munich is confident of signing Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski by next year at the latest. Speaking from Bayerns training camp in northern Italy, Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says in comments reported by the dpa news agency: "I am quite optimistic that the player will move to Bayern Munich next summer." The Poland striker has one year remaining on his Dortmund contract but has made no secret of his desire to join Bayern. His agents have been quite vocal in attempting to force the move through despite Dortmund ruling out a move this off-season. Lewandowski will be able to move for free once his contract expires next year. The 24-year-old forward scored 24 goals in the Bundesliga and 10 in the Champions League last season. Eric Bledsoe Bucks Jersey . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. George Hill Bucks Jersey . PAUL, Minn. http://www.nbabucksproshop.com/Authentic-Giannis-Antetokounmpo-Bucks-Jersey/ . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead. Glenn Robinson Bucks Jersey . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. Eric Bledsoe Jersey . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line.Manchester United have sacked manager Louis van Gaal. From last seasons cup disappointments to the defeats that shook belief in the manager this term, there have been a number of key moments that have cost Van Gaal. Van Gaal sacked by United Louis van Gaal has been sacked as manager of Man Utd Here we pick out 15 of the most significant results that have led to the Dutchmans departure from Old Trafford… MK Dons 4-0 Man Utd, Capital One Cup - August 26 2014 Defeat to MK Dons came in Louis van Gaals third match in charge In only Van Gaals third match in charge, United suffered one of their most humiliating defeats in decades at the hands of MK Dons. Benik Afobe and Will Grigg scored twice each for the League One side, with Uniteds second string XI failing to muster a single shot on target until the 72nd minute. The Capital One Cup was low on Uniteds list of priorities, but the defeat dented morale and prolonged a poor start under the Dutchman. His post-match comments hardly seemed befitting of a Manchester United manager, either.I am not shocked because I know what can happen, he said. I think also that Milton Keynes played very well, very aggressively, and they had also a little bit of luck. Did Man Utd progress under LVG? Did Manchester United progress under Louis van Gaal? Man Utd 1-2 Arsenal, FA Cup - March 9 2015 Danny Welbeck made Van Gaal rue the decision to sell the striker to Arsenal United had won their two previous games going into this FA Cup quarter-final and would go on to win their next four too. But this result ended any realistic hopes that Van Gaal had of winning a trophy in his first season in charge.It was a defeat made all the more unfortunate for the United manager given the identity of the scorer of Arsenals winning goal.He doesnt have the record of Van Persie or Rooney and that is the standard, said Van Gaal when selling Danny Welbeck to the Gunners. That is why we let him go - because of Falcao but also the youngsters who can fit in.The decision to allow a popular Manchester-born player to leave the club never sat well and this added to the discomfort. Arsenal went on to win the FA Cup. Mourinhos Man Utd in-tray Five challenges facing Jose Mourinho at Manchester United Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd, Premier League - April 18 2015 United seemed to be building momentum before defeat at Stamford Bridge United went into this one having won six Premier League games on the bounce and while their title chances were slim at best, Van Gaal wasnt afraid to talk them up.In fairness, victory at Stamford Bridge in April would have closed the gap on the league leaders to just five points with United appearing to have the more straightforward run-in.Although the visitors were the dominant team, having more than 70 per cent of the possession, it was Chelsea that got the 1-0 win thanks to Eden Hazards goal.In hindsight, this seems to have curtailed any momentum Van Gaal was building - they lost 3-0 at Everton next time out and stumbled through to the end of the season. Where it went wrong for LVG Key issues that cut short Dutchmans tenure Arsenal 3-0 Man Utd, Premier League - October 4 2015 Van Gaals side were top of the league when they lost heavily at the Emirates There was growing optimism at United given that they went into the weekend top of the Premier League, but the manner in which they were dismantled by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium was alarming.Two goals down inside seven minutes, the third went in on the 20-minute mark and there was to be no way back. It was an emphatic beating and easy to interpret it as a tactical error.The lack of mobility in Uniteds midfield had been flagged up before kick-off with Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger paired together. The German looked to press high despite Morgan Schneiderlin seeming better suited to the role.It didnt look like theyd prepared for Arsenals strengths, said Gary Neville. The tactic around the use of Schweinsteiger in the first half was odd.Man Utd 0-0 Middlesbrough, Capital One Cup - October 28 2015 Wayne Rooney was among the United players who missed in a shootout defeat to Middlesbrough After two seasons without a major trophy, United were not in a position to ignore the Capital One Cup. In fact, David Moyes probably still regrets the late goal and subsequent penalty shoot-out defeat in a semi-final against Sunderland that denied him a trip to Wembley. Van Gaal didnt even get that far, eliminated by lower-league opposition for a second successive season.The penalty defeat to Middlesbrough wasnt as emphatic as the 4-0 loss to MK Dons but, in its own way, it was just as desperate.Fortunate to get away with Daley Blinds own goal, which was pulled back for an infringement, Jesse Lingard later hit a post and Marouane Fellaini twice went close but there was no breakthrough. Carrick, Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young all missed in the shoot-out.Man Utd 0-0 PSV, Champions League - November 25 2015 The stalemate against PSV was Uniteds fourth goalless draw in seven games United went into the PSV group-stage return game on a three-game winning streak having conceded only once in six games. Defensive solidity was now being banked upon but there were still concerns over creativity - concerns that were rammed home after another uninspiring performance in front of an increasingly disgruntled Old Trafford crowd.Knowing a win would take them through to the knockout stages with a game to spare, United could not find a goal - enduring a fourth goalless draw in seven games. Sir Alex Ferguson hadnt had one in his last 116 games in charge.Lingard fired the best chance over the bar as United had 61 per cent of the ball to no avail. It would prove significant when United went to Germany in their final game.Wolfsburg 3-2 Man Utd, Champions League - December 8 2015 Their Champions League exit was confirmed at Wolfsburg The result at home to PSV meant United knew they would need a win in Wolfsburg as long as the Dutch side got the result they needed against CSKA Moscow. There were moments - albeit fleeting ones - where that looked a possibility. Anthony Martial gave them an early lead but they held on for only three minutes before going behind soon after.An 82nd-minute Wolfsburg own goal put United level once again and in with a chance, but goals in Eindhoven and a winner by Vieirinha endeed their Champions League campaign.ddddddddddddIt was a huge disappointment that would have had the Manchester United board getting particularly twitchy with their hopes of getting back into the competition through the Premier League also in the balance.Bournemouth 2-1 Man Utd, Premier League - December 12 2015 Bournemouth grabbed a shock win over United Newly-promoted Bournemouth added to Van Gaals growing troubles with this win. And yet, it was one that the home side admitted they were confident of after seeing the United team. Of a back-four of Guillermo Varela, Paddy McNair, Daley Blind and Cameron Borthwick-Johnson, Cherries striker Glenn Murray said: When you see a back four like that, you almost have to fancy your chances.That defence formed part of Uniteds sixth-youngest line-up in Premier League history and the youngest of Van Gaals reign. As a result, perhaps it wasnt a huge surprise that the team conceded from two corners.Despite the injuries, it raised further questions over the managers squad-building and the direction in which the club was heading. They were slipping out of the title race.Man Utd 1-2 Norwich, Premier League - December 19 2015 Defeat to Norwich was their second in a row against a newly promoted side Van Gaal had a rather more experienced defence at his disposal for the visit of Norwich and there was hope that this would bring a return to form, but it proved anything but as United struggled once more.Another 2-1 defeat was a second in a row against a newly-promoted side and saw United go four Premier League games without a win for the first time since the days of Moyes.The performance was a shambles defensively with Ashley Young and Chris Smalling culpable for Cameron Jeromes opener, before Rooney lost it near the halfway line for Alex Tettey to run through for the second.United mustered only two shots on target so couldnt have won even if both had gone in and the chants of Jose Mourinho from both sets of fans seemed to sum up the mess Van Gaal was in.Stoke 2-0 Man Utd, Premier League - December 26 2015 A Boxing Day loss at Stoke sparked speculation Van Gaal could resign There was no Christmas cheer for Van Gaal at Stoke, either, as his side crumpled to a fourth-straight defeat. The Dutchman had dropped out-of-form captain Wayne Rooney from his starting line-up but was forced to throw the England striker on in desperation at half-time, with United trailing 2-0.A poor header back to David de Gea from Memphis Depay had allowed Bojan Krkic to open the scoring before Marko Arnautovic doubled the advantage.It could have been worse for the visitors - Arnautovic wasted a one-on-one chance in the second half - and after the game, Van Gaal said: It is not always the club that has to fire or sack me, sometimes I do that by myself, sparking speculation he would resign.Sunderland 2-1 Man Utd, Premier League - February 13 2016 Van Gaal admitted reaching the Champions League would be a struggle after defeat to Sunderland A much-improved performance in a 3-0 win over Stoke seemed the perfect riposte to news Pep Guardiola would be joining Uniteds neighbours Manchester City in the summer, and a draw at Chelsea - where the Londoners snatched a point with a last-gasp goal - hinted at progression. But those results were to prove another false dawn when United fell to Premier League relegation strugglers Sunderland.Amid media speculation Jose Mourinho was being primed to takeover, a David de Gea own goal handed the Black Cats their first win over Manchester United at home in the Premier League. Now six points off the top four, Van Gaal accepted it would be very difficult for his side to make the Champions League qualifying spaces.Midtjylland 2-1 Man Utd, Europa League - February 18 2016 Van Gaal could not hide his disappointment during the Europa League defeat to Midtjylland In the build-up to Manchester Uniteds round-of-32 Europa League tie with FC Midtjylland, Van Gaal had said winning the competition was the clubs best route to Champions League football next season. However, there were few tipping them to lift the trophy after a performance in Denmark severely short on quality.Memphis Depay had put the visitors ahead but they struggled to assert themselves on their hosts for long periods - and Midtjylland hadnt played a competitive game for over two months.Instead, it was United making the mistakes, wasting chances and misplacing passes and the Danish champions deservedly fought back to grab a first-leg advantage. In truth, they could have won by more.After the game, while Van Gaal blamed Murphys Law and a spate of injuries, stand-in skipper Michael Carrick said: Its just not good enough. Its not acceptable. Weve got to be a lot better.Liverpool 2-0 Man Utd, Europa League - March 10, 2016 United were knocked out of the Europa League by Liverpool United were far better in their second-leg with Midtjylland and a 5-1 win at Old Trafford set up a last-16 tie with Liverpool - the first European meeting between the two rivals. However, it was Liverpool who rose to the occasion, dominating the visitors at Anfield and taking a commanding 2-0 advantage into the second leg.In truth, Liverpools lead should have been far greater; only the brilliance of De Gea kept United in the contest. The Spanish shot-stopper was forced into six saves, while Uniteds forwards mustered just one shot on target in the whole game.[The result] is disappointing, I cannot deny that, Van Gaal said afterwards. I dont think we were in the third and fourth phase very creative, but thats also down to the defence of Liverpool. You can give them credit for that.We have to improve a lot to score more goals. A 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in the second leg ended Uniteds European involvement for 2015/16.West Ham 3-2 Man Utd - May 10, 2016 The turnaround at West Ham blew Uniteds top-four chances Uniteds top-four hopes were suddenly back in their own hands after Manchester City slipped up at Southampton before being held to a draw by Arsenal. Victories in their final two Premier League games of the season against West Ham and Bournemouth would have guaranteed United Champions League football. But they blew their chance.West Ham, in their final game at Upton Park, were fired up and stormed into the lead through Diafra Sakho. But a double from Anthony Martial turned the game around. Uniteds lead lasted barely four minutes. Michail Antonio levelled before Winston Reid headed in a dramatic winner.This is a missed opportunity, rued Van Gaal, knowing he would need Swansea to defeat City for a final-day reprieve.Jamie Redknapp was far more scathing of Uniteds display - the visitors had managed just two shots on target.West Ham won every second ball, said the Sky Sports pundit. They wanted it more. Van Gaal said this was a special place for West Ham tonight, but surely it was special for Man United today, too? They had an opportunity to get into the top four. They were just out-fought in every department. Also See: Did Man Utd progress under LVG? Redknapp: Right time for change Wilkins has sympathy for LVG How Jose rumours intensified ' ' '