Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal yesterday dismissed reports that the club has approached Jose Mourinho about succeeding him at Old Trafford, in comments published by British newspapers.
The BBC and regional newspaper the Manchester Evening News reported on Friday that United have held preliminary talks with Mourinho, who was sacked by Chelsea in December.
But Van Gaal, whose contract expires next year, described reports about his position as “nonsense” and said he found it impossible to believe that United were lining up his replacement.
“There has been such nonsense created about me,” said Van Gaal, ahead of United's Premier League clash against Chelsea yesterday. “I don’t believe there is already a relationship between Jose Mourinho and Manchester United because I have seen what has happened here over the last two months.
“It has been very difficult for me, for my wife, for my kids, for my grandchildren and for my friends to cope with that. But it is the football world these days,” the Dutchman added.
United went into the weekend five points below the Champions League places in fifth place.
They though remain alive in the FA Cup and the Europa League, but were knocked out of the League Cup in round four and the Champions League in the group phase.
Mourinho stated after being sacked by Chelsea that he would remain in England and has said that he was eager to return to work.
“I stopped when I left Chelsea in 2007, for a few months, and now is the second time I stop in 15 or 16 years, so it is not a drama. But for sure, I will be back soon,” Mourinho said.
“At this moment I don’t know where football will take me, because in football you never know. But as a family, our home will be in London.
“I experimented with English, Italian and Spanish football, three of the top football sides in the world (Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid). I always say I need competition. I need competition every week.
“No, I am not enjoying it. I can have my family, I can have my friends, I can have my quiet life, which I also like, and I can have my football.
“I can have everything together and I don’t need to give up on one of them. To be fully happy I need everything, so I go back to football.
“I think it’s my natural habitat. I have worked since I can remember, and as a manager since 2000.”
Mourinho, who was sacked in December seven months after winning the Premier League title, added that he will soon be back in management.
“(London) is an amazing place to live and for the family to be together,” said Mourinho. “As a professional, I am ready to move,” added the former Real Madrid coach.”
Mourinho, who also won the league with Chelsea in his first two seasons there from 2004 to 2006, suggested that he deliberately created “instability” among players once they won trophies, to avoid any complacency.
“If you are in a club that wins, if you want to win again you have to create instability in the winners,” added the Portuguese, fired by Chelsea after a run of poor form by the champions.
“You have to make them doubt, you have to buy new players, you have to make them feel not in their comfort zone. There is a normal tendency to go to your comfort zone. If you don’t react, if you believe that just because you won in one year that you are going to win again, it’s very difficult.”