Louis van Gaal: ‘Jose Mourinho link to Man Utd is invented’

(BBC) Louis van Gaal says that Manchester United do not need to clarify his future after reports that Jose Mourinho is in talks with the club.

The BBC understands that Manchester United have opened negotiations with representatives of Mourinho.

Speaking after Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea, Van Gaal asked a reporter: “You’ve spoken with [chief executive] Ed Woodward?

“Why does the club have to deny it, when you are creating stories?”

Van Gaal, 64, said last month that journalists had “sacked” him three times already this season and grew irritable by further questions over his immediate future.

He is out of contract at the end of next season and the draw at Stamford Bridge left United six points short of the top four.

“OK. So you didn’t speak to Ed Woodward, not with [Manchester United owners] the Glazers and you are inventing a story,” Van Gaal said.

“And then I have to answer this question. I don’t answer this question. And I shall repeat myself every week.

“Now I have to say that you [a reporter] are getting the sack tomorrow. What is your name? Then I can announce your name also.”

United had the better of the first 70 minutes at Stamford Bridge and led through Jesse Lingard’s excellent goal, only for Diego Costa to equalise in added time.

Van Gaal said his team should have done enough to earn the praise from the media and referenced Sir Alex Ferguson’s three years without a trophy at the start of his reign.

He said: “It was not a ‘boring’ match. For the third game in succession our football was sparkling.

“So I hope to get the support of the media this week.

“But you write what you like. Maybe you remember the difficult first years of Fergie. You have to study, study statistics.”

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