Defiant Louis van Gaal all but tells media to go f*** themselves

Some thought he might be cowed but they don't know Louis van Gaal.

The Manchester United boss has had to put up with some false rumours of his sacking over the last few days and today he let the media know what he thought of them for stirring the pot. That said, he didn't want to face them at Carrington today, instead he only did so because of Manchester United's media obligations to the Premier League. Having had to read about having "two games to save his job" and of interest in Jose Mourinho, the former Barcelona manager came out swinging. He did not deal with the logic that these journalists are obviously being briefed by somebody within the club, instead mentioning his grandchildren and his wife in a rather emotional address.

"Has anybody in this room not a feeling to apologise to me?" was his opening gambit, before a five-minute diatribe that dominated a press conference he left after only five minutes. "Four weeks ago we were first in PL, and in about 4 weeks we can again be in that position," said van Gaal. "You have to stick by the facts, when I get calls off Alex Ferguson, David Gill and Ed Woodward because you are creating something that is not good, what is not being the facts. And now I have to answer queastions. I don't think that I want to do it," he added. "I am only saying now I am focused on Stoke City. I have my players. "I wish you a merry Christmas and also maybe a happy New Year when I see you. Enjoy the wine and a mince pie. Good bye."

If he had been holding the microphone he probably would have dropped it at that stage. Reports that several journalists have since choked on their mince pies are as yet unconfirmed.