Manchester United Boss Louis van Gaal Reveals His Contact With Jose Mourinho

Under fire Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal has revealed that he doesn’t expect a phone call from his long time friend Jose Mourinho to clear ...

Under fire Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal has revealed that he doesn’t expect a phone call from his long time friend Jose Mourinho to clear up mounting speculation over the Dutchman’s Manchester United future.

Van Gaal once again put on a relaxed front as he dealt with questions over the story that won’t go away – that Mourinho will take over as Old Trafford boss in the summer.

Van Gaal remains under pressure at Manchester United with Jose Mourinho waiting in the wings

The pair are friends from their days together at Barcelona and Van Gaal spoke in glowing terms at a Mourinho tribute night at London’s Savoy Hotel 13 months ago.

So why doesn’t Van Gaal contact the former Chelsea boss to clear the air over media revelations that United have been in advanced talks with Mourinho to succeed Van Gaal at the end of the season.

He replied: “No I haven’t been tempted. (If I did) then you think the media is right and it is not like that. I am not thinking like that.”

So what about Mourinho phoning his former boss? “No. In the football world that doesn’t happen,” Van Gaal added.

“I was chairman of the coaches federation in the Netherlands and we had a rule that you can never talk with a club without informing the present manager. It is not usual that you speak with others.”

So is that a good rule which should be introduced into the Premier League?

“No! Sometimes it has been broken by people and by managers,” Van Gaal stated.” It is always like that. It is not always an honest world.”

Van Gaal believes his future – he still has another season to run on a three year contract – will be determined by whether Manchester United qualify for the Champions League.

Van Gaal would ideally like to finish in the top three, one place above last season’s final position, to automatically qualify for the group stages of the competition.

Suddenly the much derided Europa League which United now find themselves in assumes greater importance because the winners receive Champions League status next season.

He added:“Yes and that is why it is important. I believe Manchester United have never won this cup so that is also historically good.

"But it's important for the club that we can qualify for the Champions League through the Europa League.

“Does it matter which way we get into the Champions League? No, I don’t think so. That would make it a successful season because that is our aim.”