Van Gaal Admits Frustration By United’s Draw With Chelsea

Van Gaal has endured stinging criticism from former United players and the club’s fans for his conversative tactics, with reports suggesting he was twice talked out of quitting by executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward earlier this term.

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has commented on rumours that Jose Mourinho will replace him at the club.

Van Gaal said it was also untrue that he had hired security for his wife in the face of increasing dissent from United’s support, as had been reported in UK media.

Van Gaal, whose side are now six points off the Champions League places after Diego Costa’s injury time equaliser, said: “Why do they have to deny?”

“Okay, okay, so you haven’t spoken to Ed Woodward or the Glazers, so you are inventing this story”. Then I have to answer that question.

Van Gaal has been engaged in a battle to hold onto his job for much of a troubled season and that struggle was hardly helped by news that United’s share position isn’t much healthier than their league status.

Costa’s goal, a tap-in after Borthwick-Jackson inadvertently steered Fabregas’s through-ball into his path, extended interim manager Guus Hiddink’s unbeaten run to 10 matches since he succeeded the sacked Mourinho in late December.

De Gea was deservedly showered with more plaudits after a host of superb saves kept Chelsea at bay for much of Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. “It is hard to win the league because you are competing against another team that also win and win and win like you do, so in the end, I was champion in Spain with 100 points and I lost a league in Spain with 91 points”. “I can have everything together and I don’t need to give up on one of them”.

But he did say that his family will remain in London and that he liked the competitiveness of English football.

“We had it so close but in the end Chelsea are always trying to score and create chances and they scored a late goal and we didn’t have any time to try to come back”, said United midfielder Juan Mata, who joined from Chelsea.

“But I’m happy with the performance”.

“For sure, I will be back soon”, the Portugese told GQ magazine in an interview published on its website (www.gq-magazine.co.uk).

“I don’t answer this question and I shall repeat myself every week”.

Jose Mourinho says a lack of signings left Chelsea’s players in the comfort zone and caused the woeful Premier League title defence that prompted his departure.