Louis van Gaal has received assurances about his future at Manchester United, including calls from the executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and the former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, and insists he will keep his job.
Van Gaal said he had also received the backing of the former chief executive David Gill and demanded an apology from the journalists at his press conference before walking out in a fit of pique. It lasted four minutes and 58 seconds, comprising only three questions, before he made for the exit, telling the reporters to enjoy the wine and mince pies.
United’s manager was clearly furious after several days of intense speculation since the 2-1 home defeat by Norwich City last weekend when he admitted himself that he was “worried” and “cannot close my eyes” to the prospect of losing his job.
His team have fallen to fifth in the Premier League and have not won in their last six games, including their elimination from the Champions League, but Van Gaal came out fighting in a way that felt reminiscent of Ferguson’s days as manager.
“Has anybody in this room not a feeling to apologise to me?” he began, having been asked about Arsène Wenger’s comments that it was “disrespectful” to see so much speculation. “That’s what I’m wondering. I think I was already sacked, I read. I have been sacked. My colleague [Jose Mourinho]was here already. What do you think happens with my wife or my kids [when they read that]? Or with my grandchildren? Or with the fans of Manchester United? Or my friends? What do you think? They have called me a lot of times and also Arsène Wenger is saying something about that.
“So you think that I want to talk with the media now? I am here only because of the Premier League rules that I have to talk with you. But I can see when I say something that you use my words in your context. And I want to say that I have tried to lift the confidence of my players. I have done everything this week.
“I held meetings with the players and with my members of staff. I held a Christmas lunch. I did a speech and I felt the warmth and support of everybody in Carrington. But I didn’t feel that in the media and, of course, I can imagine that you can write about that subject. We are not in a good position but four weeks ago we were first in the Premier League and in four weeks’ time we can be back in that position again.”
Van Gaal has overseen four wins in the last 15 games amid growing criticism of the team’s style of play, and his win ratio – 50.7% – is currently below David Moyes’s 52.95% from his time at the club. However, the former Holland manager had clearly been emboldened by what he has heard from the club’s English-based directors. His team play Stoke City on Saturday, followed by Chelsea’s visit to Old Trafford two days later, and Van Gaal clearly believes his job is not vulnerable.
“I don’t think that you can do that [speculate about his position] because you have to stick by the facts and when I get calls off Alex Ferguson and David Gill and Ed Woodward [it is]because you are creating something that is not good, which is not the facts,” Van Gaal said.
“Now I have to answer questions; I don’t think I want to do it. I say now that I am focussed on Stoke City. I help my players. I wish you a merry Christmas and also maybe a happy new year when I see you. Enjoy the wine and a mince pie.”
(Guardian service)
