Under pressure Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal yesterday stormed out of a press conference ahead of boxing day's clash with Stoke city after he was asked questions about his future by the press. In a press conference that lasted just four minutes, the United boss whose position has been under threat with Jose Mourinho as his likely replacement said he deserved apologies from the British press for cooking up stories and that he had received calls of solidarity from Sir Alex Ferguson and Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward.
United travel to Stoke on Boxing Day before taking on Chelsea at Old Trafford two days later. Read the interview session below...
Q: Arsene Wenger says it’s been disrespectful?
Has anybody in this room not a feeling to apologise to me? That’s what I’m wondering. I think I was already sacked, I read. I have been sacked.
My colleague 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. And 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.
Q: Manchester United is a huge club, is the speculation inevitable?
No I don’t think that you can do that because 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. I only say now 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. Goodbye.
