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Manchester United news: Louis van Gaal reveals he wanted to sign two-year deal

The Dutchman will enter a third year at Old Trafford next season - if he is not replaced this summer

Sunday 01 May 2016 12:12 BST

Louis van Gaal (Getty)

Defiant Louis van Gaal has given his clearest indication yet that he expects to be in charge of Manchester United next season while revealing for the first time that it was at the club’s insistence, not his own, that he signed a three-year contract at Old Trafford in 2014.

It is a fascinating development in the saga that has built up over van Gaal’s future with United as he reaches the end of his second year as the club’s manager.

Van Gaal has long stated that it has always been his intention to see out the third, and final, year of the deal he signed when he left his previous post as manager of the Dutch national team.

But it had never been revealed before that the 64-year-old’s original preference had been to sign a two-year contract with the Premier League club before retiring to his luxury villa on The Algarve.

“Of course,” said van Gaal when asked if he expected his time in charge to date to have been quite so challenging. “That is why they have hired me and also we have spoken about that. And also we have a process of three years.

“I wanted to sign for two years. They want three years, not I. I have signed for three years so next year you see me again!”

Van Gaal has grown increasingly frustrated and angry at reports that have repeatedly claimed a decision has already been taken by the club’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to dispense with him this summer, with Jose Mourinho apparently lined up as his replacement.

Jose Mourinho is wanted by a number of clubs (2016 Getty Images)

But as United prepare to face possible champions Leicester City on Sunday afternoon, Van Gaal did not hesitate to defend the progress he claims United have made on his watch and could yet make if they qualify for next season’s Champions League.

“I am a realistic man and I only speak about facts,” said van Gaal. “Up until now, we are less because last year we were fourth, now we are fifth.

“But still we are able to end the season third so we have to wait and see on May 15, then we know for sure.

“I can’t say again “if, if.” The facts count and the fact is we are in the FA Cup Final, the fact is we were in the Champions League, that we didn’t do last year.

“The fact is we went further in the Capital One Cup and so on. So there are a lot of positives but now we are one position less than last year and that position is very important for the club, the most important position.

Sir Alex Ferguson on Jose Mourinho

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1/13Sir Alex Ferguson on Jose Mourinho

Sir Alex Ferguson on Jose Mourinho

January 2005, after the Carling Cup semi-final first leg

"I think Mourinho has opened a can of worms for himself. We remember what happened in Porto. Look back a couple of weeks to the penalty decision that went their way against Liverpool and how Rafael Benitez handled that. But then Drogba reacted by grabbing Quinton Fortune by the throat, so I wonder whether the FA's compliance unit will be thinking about that."

2005 Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson on Jose Mourinho

December 2006, after Mourinho suggested a five-point gap was only two as the teams had to play

"I'm trembling. It's good that I know we've lost the game in April, because we can have a rest that weekend. I'll put my reserve team in that day [April 14]. The first team can save their energy for the next game. Hopefully, we'll be 20 points ahead by then!"

2005 Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson on Jose Mourinho

December 2006

"We will only be in trouble if we listen to Jose too much. I won’t be letting the players fall into the trap of thinking it’s won because all we have done is given ourselves a foundation. There are many hurdles to be navigated in the run-in. To win the league, you have to have great consistency, particularly around March and April. Historically, we have done okay at that time of the year."

2006 AFP

Sir Alex Ferguson on Jose Mourinho

March 2007, after Mourinho claimed Man Utd got decisions from referees

"His football club have been involved in so many things about referees over the years. It seems to me that, if you contest something at Chelsea and they don't get their own way, then something happens. Either referees or players are threatened and things like that. It's an incredible club. I think he should button his lip now for the rest of the season. I may be only just beginning because there is plenty for me to talk about with Jose and referees, and Chelsea and referees. I've got a catalogue of them, a big file, in my office if you want me to bring it out. But we'll leave that for another day."

2006 Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson on Jose Mourinho

April 2007, after Mourinho again complained about referees

"Mourinho seems to be on some sort of personal crusade. I am surprised no action has been taken. It's calculated. We have four games to go now. If we get a penalty against us, Mourinho wins that war. That is wrong. It is a rant all the time now. I don't think it is fair to the game."

Getty Images

Sir Alex Ferguson on Jose Mourinho

September 2007, after Mourinho was sacked

"It is a disappointment for the game. He was terrific for football and terrific for Chelsea. I enjoyed the competition with him. He was something fresh and new to our game. I don't know what I will do with my wine now. I wish him well."

2007 AFP

Sir Alex Ferguson on Jose Mourinho

March 2009, ahead of first leg clash with Inter

"I think that when Jose came that there was a great upsurge in Chelsea's position in the game. It happened suddenly. He came in, he uttered those words, 'I'm the special one,' and it seemed to galvanize the whole club."

2009 Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson on Jose Mourinho

March 2011, in an interview with Sports Illustrated

"He's at the top, there's no doubt about that. You have certain criteria in terms of top management, and that is longevity of success—which is very difficult today—and what you win. You have to regard his achievements as really first-class."

2013 AFP

Sir Alex Ferguson on Jose Mourinho

April 2011, after Mourinho was linked with Mourinho under pressure at Real Madrid

“I am great friends with Jose and we often speak about his future. I can understand his desire to come back to England. There is more freedom from media attention for a manager here, you don’t have Marca and the radio programmes at midnight that he gets constantly in Madrid. But it’s a difficult one for me to tell him when this position will become available.”

Getty Images

Sir Alex Ferguson on Jose Mourinho

December 2011, in a new book titled Jose Mourinho, The Secrets of his Success

"I look at Jose and I see myself reflected in many of the things he does. In the first year at Chelsea when I saw him running along the touchline at Old Trafford, he reminded me of my first years at Aberdeen jumping, raising my arms, celebrating. We're only human. We can't hide our emotions. They're always there, they're part of who we are, of our character."

2013 Manchester United FC

Sir Alex Ferguson on Jose Mourinho

December 2012, in an interview

"He can manage anywhere, absolutely. I'm not going to put any forecasts on what is going to happen at this club. I won't last forever, but José can manage anywhere, there is no question about that."I would never think a guy who hasn't played a game could be a top coach but then you've got to look at his personality. He's got a marvellous, strong personality and that bridges that gap. I remember his first press conference [at Chelsea, in 2004] and I thought: 'Christ, he's a cocky bastard, him'. He was telling the players: 'Look, I'm the special one, we don't lose games'. Bloody hell, coming to England, he is only a young man and saying he is the special one! But it told all the players to have the belief they were going to win the league."

Getty Images

Sir Alex Ferguson on Jose Mourinho

December 2014, speaking to Clare Balding

"It is unfair really. He’s good looking, he’s got that sort of George Clooney bit in his hair now. But I think he is a great example, he can speak five languages or whatever he can. He goes and becomes an interpreter for Bobby Robson, follows him to Barcelona, works under Louis Van Gaal; he is learning all the time. He has got a determination, he wants to be a coach. He never played the game, by the way – you tell me how many presidents would give a manager a job who has never played the game? None. But he has done it. Then he goes and manages a small team in Portugal, then goes to Porto and wins the league, wins the Uefa Cup, wins the European Cup, goes to Chelsea and wins the league. Goes to Inter Milan. That is an example to anyone who wants to do well, you shouldn’t let the barriers get in your way if you want to get there."

Getty Images

Sir Alex Ferguson on Jose Mourinho

December 2015, 10 days before Chelsea sacked Mourinho for the second time

"He has sacked so many coaches... that I am sure he has learned by it. He has to trust and have confidence Jose can turn it around. There is no point in sacking one of the best coaches of all time. He's won the European Cup twice; he's won the league in each country he's managed in, he's won the big trophies. It would be foolish to take that step to sack him. That would be bad management; it's poor leadership, that. It's the first time he's been confronted with non-success. If you look at his whole career it's been nothing but a rise all the time, so for the first time in his life he's had to deal with bad publicity, adversity, and that's a challenge but there are signs he is getting back to a balanced level even though they lost on Saturday... For Jose, all good leaders will eventually find a solution. He will find a solution... It's not looking great at the moment, but I know the guy and work he has done in football and I can't see it lasting long."

2015 Getty Images

“So we have to close the gap, we have to beat Leicester City, then we have to beat Norwich City, then West Ham and our away matches are not so good because also that is a fact.

“We are the best home team but we are one of the lousiest away teams of the top clubs. That’s our point that we have to prove.”

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