Van Gaal on Jose rumours and ‘title-winning’ form

Matt Stead

Louis van Gaal has discussed constant speculation surrounding Jose Mourinho, as well as Manchester United’s ‘title-winning’ form.

Mourinho has been constantly linked with the manager’s job at Old Trafford, with many of the British press reporting that the Portuguese’s appointment was a ‘done deal‘.

Van Gaal still has 18 months remaining on his United contract however, and believes the club would consult him if they had contacted Mourinho.

“I shall be disappointed (if contact has been made),” the United manager said. “Because that is the consequence of what I have said. In a football world that is possible, I know, but I do not think that.

“I have a relationship with Ed (Woodward) and the Glazers, they (would) tell me I think.”

Van Gaal also discussed United’s form in 2016. The club ended last year on a run of eight consecutive games without victory, exiting the Champions League and seeing an unlikely Premier League title challenge falter as a result.

But this calendar year has seen United lose just once in eight games, and the club are fifth in a form table from January 1.

“When you see our results in 2016, when we have that over the whole season we are the champions,” Van Gaal said. “But we have to show it every week now because of the fact that the gap is so big.”

United are six points behind fourth-placed Manchester City in the race for Champions League qualification.