Louis van Gaal insisted he has never offered to resign as Manchester United manager — but accepted he could be sacked if his side are knocked out of the FA Cup by Derby.
Van Gaal railed at what he claimed has been “awful and horrible” coverage in the media after reports this week that he had offered to quit after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Southampton.
But the Dutchman, whose team have only won three of their last 14 matches, said he is worried United fans believed such stories.
“I think I don’t have mentioned that [offering to resign] ever,” he said in a news conference.
“I think that you make your own stories and then I have to answer on your stories. I am not doing that because I think it is awful and horrible and you can write, and a lot of colleagues have written that, and then I have to answer the questions of their stories. I don’t think I have to do it. I don’t think the press conference is the moment to talk for that.
“When you make your stories, I am very concerned the people are believing what you are writing and because I receive a lot of calls and messages.”
Referring to suggestions he was on the brink of the sack in December, Van Gaal added: “You can write what you want and it is now the third time already that I have been sacked and I am still sitting here for you and I am here because I am obliged to do that.
“When you ask me, of course, I have certain people I like because they put a question a very respectful way but a lot is in a very disrespectful way.”
United travel to the iPro Stadium on Friday with Van Gaal hinting it could be the end for him.
He said: “Now I cannot lose any more because I am then condemned for the fourth time that I am sacked and then maybe you write the truth because sometimes it happens.”
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