Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal has been told he must win the remaining four Bundesliga fixtures before Christmas to save his job.

The man to set the ultimatum is director of sport Christian Nerlinger, who will assume even more power at the club when general manager Uli Hoeness steps up to become club president this Friday.

One of his duties will be the hiring and firing of coaches, and he made it clear to Sport Bild magazine that he will not shirk the responsibility if Van Gaal cannot lead the team around the corner between now and December 20.

"You have simply got to win the four remaining games before the winter break," he said.

"The curve has now got to turn sharply upwards."

Bayern currently lie seventh in the Bundesliga, six points adrift of leaders Bayer Leverkusen.

Their future in the Champions League could be decided tonight should Juventus defeat Bordeaux or, in the worst-case scenario, should Bayern lose at home to Maccabi Haifa. Either outcome would lead to their elimination from the competition.

But Nerlinger's focus appears to be on seeing his side climb the Bundesliga standings.

"Teams like Mainz cannot be allowed to remain above Bayern in the long term," he added.

"Van Gaal knows the job, but he now needs to get things right."

Bayern travel to Hannover on Sunday before finishing the year with clashes against three relegation candidates - Borussia Monchengladbach, Bochum and Hertha Berlin.