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Manchester
United manager Louis van Gaal walked out of a press conference on Wednesday
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Louis van Gaal has walked
out of a press conference after becoming annoyed about speculation regarding
his future as Manchester United manager. Rumours have been rife this week that the
Dutchman is about to be sacked and replaced by Jose Mourinho, who was dismissed
by Chelsea last Thursday.
Press Association report continues:
But
after just under five minutes' questioning at his weekly press conference, Van
Gaal refused to take any more questions and walked out, saying as he passed a
table of mince pies and wine that had been laid on for the media: "I wish
you a merry Christmas and also maybe a happy new year when I see you.
"Enjoy
the wine and a mince pie. Goodbye."
The
press conference lasted just four minutes and 58 seconds in total. The Dutchman
only answered three questions from the broadcast media and then refused to take
any questions from the written press.
It
was clear the 64-year-old, who is halfway through his three-year contract, was
in an angry mood from the moment he took his seat in the media room at the
club's training ground in Carrington.
"Has
anybody in this room not a feeling to apologize to me? That's what I'm
wondering," he snapped after being asked about Arsene Wenger's claim Van
Gaal's treatment had been "disrespectful".
Senior
club sources who were fulsome in their praise of Van Gaal three weeks ago, have
fallen silent of late, which has fuelled speculation the Dutchman is about to
leave.
Van
Gaal insists the board are not to blame for the speculation, however, and
pointed the finger squarely at the media instead.
The
former Bayern Munich manager said his family and friends had been adversely
affected by the criticism and claimed he had been contacted by former manager
Sir Alex Ferguson, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and director David Gill
recently about the matter.
Van
Gaal continued: "(I have read) my (former) colleague (Mourinho) was here
already. What do you think happens with my wife or my kids? 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 Arsene 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. I have to talk with you. But I can only see when I say
something that you use my words in your context."
On
receiving calls from the three most influential people outside of the Glazer
family, who own the club, Van Gaal said: "You have to stick by the facts
and when I get calls off Alex Ferguson and David Gill and Ed Woodward because
you are creating something that is not good, what is not being the facts, now I
have to answer questions. I don't think I want to do it."
Van
Gaal insists he has felt the "warmth" of the players and his staff at
the club's training ground this week despite the stories surrounding him, which
appeared after United embarked upon a six-match winless run.
He
said: "I want to say only I have tried to lift the confidence of my
players. I have done everything this week.
"I
held meetings with the players with my members of staff, I hold a Christmas
lunch, I did a speech and I feel the warmth and support of everybody in
Carrington, this AON Training Complex.
"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 can lift the spirit of fans by ending that run at Stoke on Boxing Day.
"I
only say now I am focused on Stoke City," he said.
"I help my players. I
wish you a Merry Christmas and also maybe a Happy New Year when I see
you."
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Arsenal
boss Arsene Wenger, right, has defended the record of Manchester United
counterpart Louis van Gaal, left
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Arsene Wenger Brands Treatment Of Louis Van
Gaal "Disrespectful"
Arsene
Wenger has suggested Manchester United's treatment of manager Louis van Gaal is
'disrespectful' as speculation continues over his future. Conflicting reports have suggested the Dutchman is set to lose his
job at Old Trafford in the coming days while others say he may still see out
the season.
Only
two weeks ago United were saying van Gaal would be at the helm for the
remainder of his contract, which expires at the end of next season, but since
then the club have gone on a woeful run.
Van
Gaal's situation has come under intensified scrutiny since Chelsea sacked Jose
Mourinho last week - with many putting two and two together and suggesting he
would be the man to be installed as the immediate replacement at Old Trafford
should van Gaal be ousted.
United
have not won in six games and a home defeat to Norwich on Saturday was their
third loss in succession, leaving them outside the Barclays Premier League top
four after being knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage.
The
Red Devils travel to Stoke on Boxing Day and it remains unclear if van Gaal
will be at the helm - but Arsenal boss Wenger, whose side outclassed United in
a 3-0 win earlier in the season, believes past successes mean the former
Holland coach should be given time to address the issues at the club.
Speaking
of Mourinho's sacking and his next managerial move, Wenger launched a defence
of van Gaal amid speculation he will be replaced by the former Real Madrid
coach.
When
asked if he could see Mourinho turning up at Old Trafford, Wenger replied:
"I do not want to go into a world of speculation.
"I
personally have a huge respect for Louis van Gaal and I think what is going on
there is disrespectful.
"This
guy has worked for 30 years in football and has delivered unbelievable quality
of work. I think it is a bit disrespectful what is going on there.
"I
think a lot has been made on that (Mourinho's departure), and I do not need to
add anything.
"I
do not want anyone to lose their job, my personal feelings on that front is
that it is always sad when someone loses their job."
The
waters are clouded further by the fact Pep Guardiola has revealed he will be
leaving his post at Bayern Munich at the end of the season.
He
has been tipped to make a move to the Premier League, with Chelsea and
Manchester City both heavily linked with the 44-year-old and the likes of
United also likely to be interested, but Wenger feels he was wrong to make an
announcement over his future at such an early stage.
"Yes,
I would welcome (him) to the competition," Wenger replied when asked if he
would encourage Guardiola to come to England.
"Personally
I don't like the fact that the managers come out so early for what they will
do, because it's not necessarily good for their own team, nor for the
speculation about the managers who are going through a little bit of a
difficult patch. But after, of course.
"I
think he is of course a top-quality manager, nobody would dispute that. Not so
much for what he has won already, because Bayern won before, Barcelona still
wins today.
"But I think about the
positive attitude he has towards the game and the fact he wants his team to
play football in a positive way. I respect that highly." 
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