In a coaching career that has taken him to Ajax, Barcelona (twice), AZ, Bayern Munich and Manchester United and the Dutch national team (also twice), Louis van Gaal has never suffered foolslightly.
The Daily Mirror compiled a best-of — LVG’s best rants with the media — thatincluded these classic responses to questions from the media: “Am I the smart one or are you the stupid one?” and “Neither a good analysis by you nor a good question.”
But nothing wasquite like Wednesday’s press conference that lasted all of three questions and less than five minutes before he walked away.
Following a 2-1 home defeat to Norwich City, there has beenspeculation that the 62-year-old Dutchman has been given an ultimatum by United management that the Red Devils must win two wins of their next three games if he is to keep his job. Arsenal managerArsene Wenger called the talk about van Gaal’s future “disrespectful,” given his long and successful record, and van Gaal was asked if he agreed with Wenger’s assessment.
VanGaal’s response: “Erm, has anybody in this room not a feeling to apologize to me? Nobody has that feeling? That’s what I’m wondering?”
Van Gaal was then asked what the media had toapologize for.
“I think I was already sacked, I have read… I have been sacked. My colleague was here already,” he said of his potential replacement. “What do you think that happens withmy wife or with 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 somethingabout that.
“Do you think that I want to talk with the media now? I’m here only because of the Premier League rules. I have to talk with you. But I can only see when I say something thatyou use my words in your context. I want to say only that I have tried to lift the confidence of my players, I have done everything this week. I hold meetings, evaluation meetings with the players,with my members of staff, I hold a Christmas lunch, I have held a speech and I feel the warmth and support of everybody in Carrington, this Aon training complex.
“But I didn’t feel thatin 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 about four weeks we canagain be back in that position.”
Manchester United dropped into a tie for fourth place with Tottenham, nine points behind surprise EPL leader Leicester City, and was knocked out of theChampions League two weeks ago when it fell to Wolfsburg. With that fall by one of the most powerful clubs in the world, van Gaal was then asked if it was not inevitable that his future bequestioned.
“No, I don’t think that you can do that,” he responded, “because you have to stick by the facts and when I get calls from [former manager] Alex Ferguson and [director]David Gill and [executive vice-chairman] Ed Woodward because you are creating something that is not good, that is not being the facts, and now I have to answer the questions. I don’tthink that I want to do it. I only say now I am focused on Stoke City. I help my players.”
With that, he said, “I wish you a Merry Christmas and maybe also a Happy New Year when I see you.Enjoy the wine and a mince pie. Goodbye.”
United plays Stoke on Boxing Day and then Chelsea at Old Trafford on Monday. If Chelsea were to beat United and trigger van Gaal’s exit, it could trigger one of the great plot twists in EPLhistory.
The favorite to replace van Gaal is Jose Mourinho, fired a week ago as Chelsea manager.
Why in the world would MU want Mourinho? Did he fix himself in a week? Great coach or not this dude has issues. Three years is the max it has taken for this guy to wear out his welcome wherever he’s been.
MU might want Mourinho because it usually takes 2 years before he alienates everyone around him. I assume the plan would be, get a title in those 2 years, then rebuild after he’s gone. Short-term thinking at it’s best!