AN UNDER-pressure Louis van Gaal stormed out of a press conference yesterday but not before he wished the journalists a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

 

Speculation was rife on Tuesday evening that Van Gaal had been sacked by the United hierarchy after failing to win any of their previous six matches in all competitions.

 

The Dutchman was asked about Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger sticking up for him in his press conferences hours before United’s but his response was to ask for an apology from the media for reporting that he had lost his job.

 

[Is] “anybody in this room not [going] to apologise to me? That’s what I’m wondering,” he said.

 

When it was put to him that the media had done nothing wrong, he angrily replied: “I think I was already sacked, I have read — I have been sacked. My colleague was here already. 

 

“What do you think that happens with my wife or with 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. Do you think that I want to talk with the media now? I’m here only because of the Premier League rules. 

 

“I have to talk with you. But I can only see when I say something that you use my words in your context.”

 

The press conference lasted just under five minutes and though he did say that his only focus was on the upcoming match against Stoke on Boxing Day, he failed to expand on the topic before he stood up, passed a table of mince pies and wine laid out for the press and said: “I wish you a merry Christmas and also maybe a happy new year when I see you.

 

“Enjoy the wine and a mince pie. Goodbye.”

 

The brief talk with the media will have done little to squash the speculation that he is on the brink of losing his job.