Van Gaal dismisses Mourinho reports, claiming ‘United would have told me’

Manchester: Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said it is unlikely that the club have spoken to Jose Mourinho about replacing him.

Mourinho, who was sacked by Chelsea in December, has been heavily tipped to take over from Van Gaal by British media in recent weeks but the Dutch coach said he had heard nothing of the sort from United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and the Old Trafford board.

“I can only say that I have spoken with Ed Woodward and I cannot imagine that they have spoken with each other. I think that if they speak with another manager, they would tell me because our relationship is like that,” Van Gaal told The Independent.

“I not only have a strong relationship with Ed, but also with the Glazers. And that is why I am annoyed with all the publicity. I have been ‘sacked’ three times and now it is about negotiations starting with Mourinho.”

United, who are fifth in the Premier League, travel to face second-from-bottom Sunderland on Saturday.

Van Gaal did admit that Premier League leaders Leicester City can win the title - but their players must prove they can cope with the pressure of expectation, he said.

“They are the favourites because they are five points away from the rest, but the moment that they have to win it is different,” Van Gaal told Friday’s Independent newspaper.

“They are more or less in that place now because they want to continue with this lead. Is it possible? Why not? Maybe their players can cope, but that you do not know and that is a question that both Leicester and Tottenham must answer.” Leicester are five points clear of Spurs and Arsenal with the Manchester clubs, City and United, trailing the leaders by six and 12 points respectively. On Sunday, the Foxes visit Arsenal while Tottenham travel to Manchester City.

“It doesn’t say anything about the personalities in these teams. I don’t know them so I cannot judge. But there shall come a moment when they have to win,” Van Gaal said in the interview.

“At the moment, everything is okay and nice. But the (Leicester) manager (Claudio Ranieri) has spoken about being champion, so now it shall play in their heads. But a lot of players can cope with that,” added the Dutchman.