• Premier League

Van Persie casts doubt on Manchester United future

Robin van Persie had a chance to score for Manchester United in their FA Cup clash with Cambridge © Getty Images

Enlarge

Robin van Persie has admitted uncertainty over his future at Manchester United and does not know if the club will keep him after his contract expires in 18 months' time.

Van Persie has only scored eight goals for United this season and revealed he is unhappy with his current form, having not found the net since Boxing Day.

"It is not up to me," Van Persie said when asked about his future at Old Trafford. "For the moment, I am staying here for eighteen months. That is it really. I can't look into the future. I don't know what is going to happen after that, so we shall have to wait and see."

The forward enjoys a close relationship with United manager Louis van Gaal, who made him Netherlands captain at last summer's World Cup in Brazil, but it looks unlikely that his future will be decided before the end of the season.

The club still has to decide whether Radamel Falcao's loan move from Monaco will be made permanent, while securing David de Gea on a new long-term contract is also expected to take priority. However, Van Persie is concentrated on improving his form and getting back his name back on the scoresheet.

He added: "This year I have played something like 20 games and I have scored eight goals. I am not happy with that, I want to score more.

"Sometimes it is a thin line between scoring the first goal in a game - a bit of luck sometimes and I am a big believer in creating your own luck. But that is not another excuse for something.

"We have to find a way to create luck. Maybe sometimes it is like an option - maybe pass the ball forward a bit quicker and then to the front position and then balls will fall in front of you.

"So you create your own luck and maybe we have to do that a bit more, but we just have to keep doing what we are doing and try to improve. But I think everyone in the team is responsible. Everyone feels responsible, I do definitely."

Most recently, the 31-year-old missed a chance during United's 0-0 FA Cup fourth round clash at Cambridge United, meaning a replay at Old Trafford will now be needed to settle the tie.

It was the latest in a string of underwhelming performances from Van Gaal's side but, following the high-profile exits of Chelsea and Manchester City last weekend, Van Persie believes United have a great chance to go on and win the trophy.

"I think it has been 11 years since United won it last but I think we have a big chance this year," Van Persie added. "We want to win it. But again we have to look at the first game only because that is the next game against Cambridge.

"After the game against Cambridge, everyone was a little bit down. Although they played well so you have to give them credit because it is quite a stunt what they did. But in a way on Saturday, the whole mood changed. Manchester City were out. Chelsea were out and suddenly we are in it with a home replay against Cambridge.

"And of the so-called big clubs, with how it is now, it is just us, Arsenal, Liverpool and West Ham, but we are the highest left in the competition."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd