MAN UNITED v BOURNEMOUTH SCHOLES IS £200m spent, poor angry fans..but if LVG is sacked he believes Reds legend is responsible
Scoring record, Daniels: We want win as much as them
players. I hope that everybody is believing like me, then it is much easier.”
Van Gaal also believes supremo Ed Woodward will have gone back on his word if the Dutchman is sacked after the FA Cup Final.
The 64-year-old coach has told close aides that on three occasions this year he has been reassured by Woodward his job is safe and no deal has been struck with Jose Mourinho.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss is believed to have directly challenged Woodward about speculation that the club have met Mourinho and are ready to appoint him if United fall short of their Champions League target.
If top-four rivals Manchester City draw or win at Swansea today they will grab the final Champions League spot.
In recent weeks Van Gaal has been increasingly bullish that he will be in charge at Old Trafford next season – with or without Champions League football.
And he is as certain as he can be that talk of Mourinho’s arrival has been overblown.
“I have the impression that I am still here, otherwise I couldn’t say all the things that I have said. But in the football world, you never know, and I have seen that before,” said Van Gaal. He refused to BOURNEMOUTH defender Charlie Daniels insists it is important he and his team-mates forget all about the city of Manchester’s Champions League squabble today.
While United entertain the Cherries, arch-rivals Manchester City visit Swansea knowing victory will guarantee them at least fourth place in the Premier League and condemn Louis van Gaal’s team to a Europa League spot.
Daniels, a key figure this season in keeping Bournemouth in the top flight, said: confirm or deny thatat he hadh had pulled the plug at the last ast minutem minute on United’s pursuit of Benfi Benficafica whizzkid Renato Sanches who hash has joined Bayern Munich in a £28million£28mi illion deal.
If he did, it showsws a level of control you wouldd not expect from a manager who ho is seens seen in some quarters as a deadd-man dead-man walking.
“You have to believeelieve e me that I am still the e man n in charge, otherwisese I go. Believe me, ” said a steely-eyed Van Gaal.aal.
Fault
“At every club I hav have ve done that. You can n ask – Bayern Munich ho orr Barcelona, also o t he e Netherlands Federation. ation.
“If a player doesn’tn’t signn people think it’s alwayss my fault, but I can’t t discuss that with h the e media. I discuss thatat with h my board and my head ead off scouting.
“You can’t manage nage a club like this by revealingvealin ng all the details about bout a transfer. It’s not possible.”ssible e.”
Van Gaal believes s if UnitedUn nited win the FA Cup agains againstst Crystal Palace, for him, it will haveha ave been a successful season.
“It’s different for every everybody,”ybody,” he said.“When we qualifylify ou ourselves rselves or win a title, I am satisfied.atisfie ed. But in the eyes of many fans, that’s not enough because youu mus mustst win the league.”
In spite of the attacks of the media – and legends – I am here and I am fighting
“United know they have to win to stand a chance of getting into the topop four four,r, but we must not let that bother us. We aree going up there to try to win.
“It is going to be a great occasio occasion, on, and I’m sure our fans will go up there anda and make a lot of noise.
“We have played in front of big crowds already this season, and wew we relish taking on a big team. Itt wou wouldld be massive if we could win, andd we a arere going there to try to entertain,n, playy the football we like to play, and hopefu hopefully ully score a few goals.”