Under-pressure Louis van Gaal walks out of United news conference after questions about future

MANCHESTER, England – Louis van Gaal walked out of a news conference on Wednesday after becoming annoyed about speculation regarding his future as Manchester United manager.

Reports have spread this week that the Dutchman is about to be fired and replaced by Jose Mourinho, who was dismissed by Chelsea last Thursday.

“I think I was already sacked,” Van Gaal said sarcastically about media reports of his impending dismissal by the club. “I read I have been sacked.”

After taking questions for less than five minutes, Van Gaal refused any more and walked out.

“Do you think I want to talk with the media now? I’m here only because of the Premier League rules I have to talk with you,” Van Gaal said.

United is fifth in the Premier League heading into Saturday’s game at Stoke and is on a six-game winless run in all competitions.

The news conference lasted only 4 minutes, 58 seconds. Van Gaal only answered three questions from the broadcast media and then refused to take any questions from the written press.

It was clear the 64-year-old Van Gaal, who is halfway through his three-year contract, was in an angry mood from the moment he took his seat in the media room at the club’s training ground in Carrington.

“Has anybody in this room not a feeling to apologize to me? That’s what I’m wondering,” he snapped after being asked about Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s comments that Van Gaal’s treatment had been “disrespectful”.

Van Gaal insisted the club board was not to blame for the speculation and pointed the finger squarely at the media instead.

The former Bayern Munich manager said his family and friends had been adversely affected by the criticism and claimed he had been contacted by former manager Alex Ferguson, executive vice chairman Ed Woodward and director David Gill recently about the matter.

“(I have read) my (former) colleague was here already,” Van Gaal said, referencing reports Jose Mourinho will replace him.

“What do you think happens with my wife or 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 something about that.”