Louis van Gaal did bestow warm holiday greetings upon the reporters today as he stormed out on them. “Enjoy the wine, and the mince pie. Goodbye!” he said.
However, he kept his press conference short and not so sweet. It was five minutes and change, and it was about all him talking in a defensive hostile manner. Here’s a link to both the video and the transcript of what he had to say to the media today.
On Thursday, Christmas Eve, Van Gaal was asked by someone who works for the club’s official website, if Boxing Day was a must win for him and his club:
“Yes, I think so [it is a must-win game] because, when you have lost three times in a row, then you need a victory,” he responded to MUTV.
“We have focused ourselves to do that but it is not easy. Stoke City have won against Manchester City, for example, and it’s a special ground. It is not easy with a lot of circumstances that are not suitable always to playing good football.”
Let’s take a spin though the back pages and see what the latest stories emerging from the tabloids regarding Van Gaal and United happen to be.
According to the Daily Mirror: “Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has called a crisis meeting at Old Trafford in a bid to get their season back on track.”
Yes, Rooney is the skipper, but I guess he’s going with the “do as I say, not as I do” approach. Given how awful Rooney has been this season, we would really have the very definition of someone in a glass house throwing stones here.
Via the Sun: “Manchester United have denied rumors that Louis van Gaal’s future was discussed at a meeting in London on Tuesday.”
Yeah, that is weird how people thought Manchester United Executive Vice Chariman Ed Woodward’s trips to London had something to do with sacking Van Gaal and replacing him with Jose Mourinho. Wouldn’t he more likely be in Manchester than London to pull the trigger? Also, he can sack someone from anywhere in the world- it’s called a smartphone!
Also, Woodward goes to London every week for that matter.
Finally, emerging from the Daily Star: “Louis van Gaal will not resign as Manchester United boss, despite their alarming dip in form.”
Of course, with his ego, his record and his sense of pride in his philosophy, he’d never willingly leave.
United will visit Stoke City on Boxing Day, and then hosting Chelsea on Dec. 28. The club has already decided to beef up security surrounding Van Gaal for the next home match versus the Blues. In other words, Van Gaal will be coaching the team on Saturday, and barring something disastrously unforeseen, on the 28th as well versus the defending champions.
Imagine the coincidence though if he’s replaced by Mourinho after they take on the Blues. His last game could come against a side that just sacked his replacement last week!
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous television and radio talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
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