When Manchester United finished fourth last season, it was mission accomplished for Van Gaal in his first season at Old Trafford.
United fans were happy that the team would once again compete with Europe elite football clubs.
After a summer of interesting transfers in and out of Old Trafford, the Champions League draws were held, and again United got what they wished for.
A fairly comfortable group, for a team that was under the rebuilding tutelage of the Dutch master.
But that was where United's fairly tale would end as far as the Champions League was concerned.
Inconsistent performance home and away meant United had to settle for third in a group a team of their caliber, irrespective of the players they paraded could have topped.
That would mark the beginning of Van Gaal's turbulent season at United this season.
Winning two, drawing two and losing two in a group that comprises of VfL Wolfsburg, PSV Eindhoven and CSKA Moskva would never be acceptable by United's standards.
Finishing third means United were not totally knocked out of Europe for the season, the team dropped down into the seemingly more cumbersome Thursday night Europa League.
The competition may not have meant much to United if the team had keep its head high in the league, and remained among the top four teams, which would give the team a chance of making the Champions League again.
Currently fifth on the table, six points behind city rivals City. Winning this Europa League is United's best path into the Champions League.
Manager Van Gaal and captain Wayne Rooney both admitted this. But how feasible is it for this inconsistent, stuttering United side to win the Europa League.
Possible but a tall order.
While the Europa League still houses some small teams compared to United's footballing height, it also still contains teams that would favorably give United a fight any day.
Defending champions Sevilla, are still in the race, Dortmund, Liverpool Tottenham, Galatasaray, FC Porto, Fenerbahçe, and Gary Neville's Valencia are among the footballing powerhouses still in the competition.
Wayne Rooney's injury could also reduce United chances of making something out of the competition. The United skipper has been in sensational form since the start of the year, and missing him would be a blow to United.
It's a competition United must take seriously, match by match.
It all begins on Thursday when the team face FC Midtjylland.
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