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| Jose Mourinho, left, and Louis van Gaal, right, are former touchline rivals |
Manchester United have
declined to comment on reports that the club have held talks with
representatives of Jose Mourinho.
Press
Association report continues:
On
Friday evening it was reported by the BBC and the Manchester Evening News that
discussions have taken place.
Mourinho,
who left Chelsea in December, is widely expected to be considered a contender
for the role of United manager should Louis van Gaal depart Old Trafford in the
summer.
United
offered no response to the report, the latest to link Mourinho with Van Gaal's
job.
Van
Gaal has a year remaining on his contract after this season, in which he has
attracted considerable criticism for the defensive, slow and possession-based
style he has brought to United.
Rivals
Manchester City announced on Monday that Bayern Munich's former Barcelona boss
Pep Guardiola will become their manager in the summer, and United will not want
to lose ground on their neighbours.
Mourinho
won the Premier League title three times with Chelsea and has achieved success
wherever he has managed, including Porto, Real Madrid and Inter Milan.
Van
Gaal claimed on Friday that Wayne Rooney was wrong to say United, who play
Mourinho's former side Chelsea on Sunday, are now playing with greater freedom.
United
captain Rooney suggested after last week's FA Cup victory at Derby that manager
Van Gaal had released some of the shackles on the team.
These
sentiments were echoed by midfielder Jesse Lingard after United produced one of
their best displays of the season to beat Stoke 3-0 in the Barclays Premier
League in midweek.
But
Van Gaal claims it is more a case of Rooney and Lingard finding form.
He
said: "I'm not agreeing with the remark of Wayne Rooney when he said that
because it is only that they have more confidence.
"And
it is especially so with Wayne Rooney, who is saying that because he has scored
seven goals (in seven games). He can say that he is playing with more freedom
because he has more confidence.
"But
you want to write in your paper that it's because he gets another training
session in another style, because Louis van Gaal gives more freedom - no, it is
still the same.
"We
train still the same way. It is not because of the change of attitude of Mr
Louis van Gaal or another way of training. No. I'm sorry to say that. We are
always working hard and very professionally in the philosophy of Louis van
Gaal.
"And
that is also for Jesse Lingard."
Juan
Mata has also impressed in his preferred number 10 position in the last two
games, leading some observers to ask why the Spaniard has not played in that
role more often.
Van
Gaal claims it is because the former Chelsea man was not in good enough form
last time he tried him there.
He
said: "I have already played Mata in the same role. Maybe you remember
that. I'm not changing him from that role, he has changed himself because at
that time he wasn't good enough. That is the reason.
"It is not the trainer-coach
or the manager, but when he is playing like he has played now he shall play at
number 10."
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