more controversy after slapping a journalist at a press
conference before seemingly jetting out of Manchester to
return to the Netherlands over the weekend.
As reported by Goal , the Dutchman cancelled training on
Sunday in the aftermath of the club's 1-0 Premier League
defeat at home to Southampton, with players and coaches
told not to come in for what had previously been a
religiously routine post-match warm-down.
Before that, though, Van Gaal had already been showing
signs of the pressure he is under when he reacted badly to a
fairly innocent question on rumours linking United with a
move for Ashley Cole.
The former England international, who is thought to be
closing in on a move to LA Galaxy after his Roma contract
was terminated, had been linked with a move to Old Trafford
as a short-term fix during United's current injury crisis.
But Van Gaal - who was recently caught calling a reporter a
"fat man" in a similar outburst - did not like the line of
questioning, singling out the journalist and giving him a
patronising slap to the face as he said, "He did not play for a
year!"
Following the defeat to Southampton, Van Gaal was then
spotted by fans departing Manchester airport for his native
Holland, with some reports suggesting he might not return
from the trip.
Spotted @manairport T3 departures this morning....
Taxi for LVG! #MCFC #MCFC pic.twitter.com/
X8AIh9Psqm
— Laura Wolfe (@laurawolfe) January 24, 2016
The Red Devils appeared to be getting back on track after
winning at Anfield, but another goalless display and defeat
at Old Trafford has reignited the concerns surrounding the
Dutchman's style of play, with even Van Gaal sounding as
though he is ready to give up.
"I’m very disappointed that I cannot reach the expectations
of the fans," he said after the defeat to Southampton. "They
have - or they had - great expectations of me, and I cannot
fulfil them, so I am very frustrated because of that."
On the subject of whether he still had the appetite to remain
in charge, he continued: "This question I shall never answer
to you. We had to win this game and we could have won -
but it’s not happening. You have to play football to entertain
the fans. I don’t think we have entertained the fans, so they
can be very angry."
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