The Jose Mourinho-Manchester United saga seems to have no end in sight, and current Red Devils manger Louis van Gaal believes that the rumours about his exit from Old Trafford and the Portuguese’s potential arrival are an “absolute scandal”.
Van Gaal has been criticised relentlessly this season due to Manchester United’s performances and results across domestic and European competitions. Their most recent failure was a 2-1 defeat to Danish minnows Midtjylland in the first leg of their Europa League Round of 32 tie. Although this loss did not go down too well with the fans, the Red Devils came back to win the second leg 5-1.
However, when questioned once again about Mourinho taking over his position as the manager of Manchester United, Van Gaal seemed defiant as ever, labelling these rumours as scandalous.
“[Mourinho] has said things a number of times with a lot of words. But he does not have to tell me anything. I find the whole thing ridiculous,” Van Gaal said to a TV channel RTL7 [via ESPN].
Further showing his disgust towards these rumours, Van Gaal pointed out that it is a good thing that the club have chosen not to comment on them.
“No, I don’t want United to do something either. I don’t even want them to react to things which I read in the media or which are being created,” he said. “We, the club and I, are not going to help the media right now by denying things.
“I think what is happening is an absolute scandal.”
Why are Manchester United reluctant about appointingMourinho?
While Mourinho has been the overwhelming favourite to take over from Van Gaal at Old Trafford, there seems to be a sort of reluctance from within the club’s hierarchy to sign the former Chelsea manager. The reluctance earlier this season was justified, given the fact that the highly revered Pep Guardiola was in the market. However, now that their arch rivals Manchester City have snapped the former Barcelona manager up, why are Manchester United holding back on Mourinho?
The main reason could potentially be Mourinho’s ‘mind games’, as well as his controversial nature and tendency to step over the line from time to time. However, Daniel Taylor argues in the Guardian that even Sir Alex Ferguson has used such ploys to get the better of his rival managers in the past.
At any rate, arguably the next best manager available after Pep Guardiola is the Portuguese himself. While Mourinho is rumoured to be wanting a move to Old Trafford, there is little doubt that the 53-year-old will have other top European clubs lining up for him if Manchester United’s offer never arrives.