Louis van Gaal Still Planning 2017 Man. United Retirement

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says delaying his planned retirement in 2017 would be "very hard" to his wife.

On the club's summer tour, Van Gaal reiterated his plan to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season after the current one.

Sir Alex Ferguson claimed last week that the Dutchman would find it hard to depart, saying: "You never know what Louis will do. When you get the bug it's hard to leave."

But while Van Gaal hinted he does not know what the future holds, he also spoke of his reluctance to break a promise to his wife that he would retire as planned.

"Normally I shall leave after next year but what is normal in our football world? You never know so I cannot answer that question," the United manager said.

"But I promised my wife to go with her to our paradise [villa in Portugal] so it shall be very hard for me to deny that promise.

"Next year I am 65 and say I stay a year longer, it shall be very hard to my wife."

Van Gaal has two main objectives before he departs for his luxury villa in Vale do Lobo. He wants to win the Champions League and the Premier League.

He has made a good start on the latter - taking United to the top of the table after seven matches.

But United started their group stage campaign with defeat at PSV. Van Gaal believes his men must now win all their home matches - starting with Wednesday's game versus Wolfsburg - to qualify for the knock-out stages.

"I think in the Champions League you need to win all your home matches otherwise it shall be very difficult," said Van Gaal.

"Reaching the [Champions League] final is also an aim and winning the final is a little bit luck."

Credit: Skysports.com