Itโs safe to say Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal isnโt happy with the constant rumors about his future.
Like, not at all.
[ MORE: PWโs picks for Week 27 ]ย
With United six points off the top four heading into this Sundayโs clash against Arsenal (Watch live, 9:05 a.m. ET on NBCSN and online via Live Extra) at Old Trafford, the pressure continues to mount on LVG.
[ VIDEO: Premier League highlights ]
Speaking live onย Dutch TV station RTL7 Van Gaal snapped when asked about his former assistant at Barcelona, Jose Mourinho, taking his job at Old Trafford.
โI think what is happening is an absolute scandal,โ Van Gaal said. โEvery day I am preventing the players from being under pressure. Because every arrow is shot at me, not one at the players.
โIt is all aimed at me. In a bizarre way this situation with me has an advantage for the players. I can see that they are not being criticised. Only me.โโ
Asked if his former colleague and good friend Mourinho should speak out about the speculation, Van Gaal became more irate and insisted the speculation should not warrant anย answer.
โHe has said things a number of times with a lot of words, but he does not have to tell me anything. I find the whole thing ridiculous,โ Van Gaalย said.โI donโt want United to do something either. I donโt even want them to react to things which I read in the media or which are being created.ย We, the club and I, are not going to help the media right now by denying things.โ
[ MORE: Mourinho on United link โ โThatโs the million dollar questionโ ]
United is currently ravaged by injuries with David De Gea and Wayne Rooney both out, plus over 10 more in the treatment room with Antony Martial the latest to go down.
Van Gaal has led the Red Devils to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup and the last 16 of the Europa League (where they face Liverpool) but getting into the top four of the PL remains the main aim. If they donโt beat Arsenal on Sunday โ despite having so many players missing โ then the pressure will heap further on LVGโs shoulders but itโs highly likely heโll be given until the end of this season before his position is reviewed. LVGโs current contract runs out at the end of the 2016-17 season but you wonโt find many predicting heโll be around to see that out.
Mourinho has already said he wouldย prefer to start his next project at the beginning of next season, but is ready whenever he gets the call.
