While this is only his first season in English football, Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal has already given quite a few fiery interviews and press conferences.
The Dutchman, who has been under the microscope for all the wrong reasons in recent times, has done reasonably well at United so far with his team in fourth place after 28 games. Yet, some lackluster displays by his team time and again have attracted a lot of criticism and negativity, including a fractious relationship with assistant Ryan Giggs and on-loan striker Radamel Falcao.
The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona manager however, believes he has the backing of his players at the moment, but admitted that he will quit if they stop believing in his philosophy.
“When I think the chemistry between the players and the manager is not good enough anymore, then I go,” Van Gaal said ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Premier League rivals Tottenham.
“I am in my first season here and I can still win the title, but that will probably go to Chelsea.
“What we have to do is continue in our process. But we have been in the top four longer than Arsenal this season. That is true.”
The former Netherlands international team coach continued, “When I see this chemistry between myself and my players, then I don’t have any doubts.
“Of course, we have disappointing moments but we can survive and we have confidence to qualify for the Champions League.
“I remember when I went to AZ, a very minor club in Holland. In my first season we were second, in my second season we were third and in my third season we finished 11th.
“I said to my players that I would go away. But the players then came to my house to ask me to stay, and so did the board. So I said, ‘Okay, I will stay.’ And, in the fourth year, we were champions.”
United have a tough run of fixtures coming up, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea all waiting in the wings in the following five games. At the moment, they lie fourth on the table, two points ahead of Liverpool who are in fifth and four points behind Arsenal who have played one game more.
