'It's over!': Louis van Gaal hints that his time as Manchester United manager has come to an end despite FA Cup victory
- Manchester United defeated Crystal Palace in extra-time to win FA Cup
- Louis van Gaal told reporter 'It's over' on Sunday, suggesting he is no longer Manchester United manager
- Jose Mourinho is being touted to replace the Dutchman at Old Trafford
Louis
van Gaal appeared to admit that his time as Manchester United manager
had come to an end after telling a news reporter 'It's over' as he left
London on Sunday.
Despite
winning the FA Cup with a 2-1 extra-time victory over Crystal Palace at
Wembley on Saturday - courtesy of Jesse Lingard's sensational volley -
doubts over the Dutchman's future were again raised immediately after
the final.
Sky
Sports' James Cooper was outside the team's Hilton hotel in central
London on Sunday as they prepared to return to Manchester, reporting
that Van Gaal had responded to a request for comment by saying: 'No, no.
It's over!'.
Louis van Gaal appeared to suggest he was leaving United before arriving back in Manchester by train
Van Gaal arrives at Stockport station with wife Truus (left) after telling a reporter in London 'It's over'
The Dutchman's parting gift could be winning the FA Cup after United's 2-1 extra-time victory over Palace
Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been touted to take over at Manchester United
The
Portuguese was pictured leaving his London home on Sunday after watching
David Haye's fight at the O2 Arena on the night before
The
reporter acknowledged that these comments carried 'a touch of
ambiguity', but believes they indicated that the manager, who looked
'slightly awkward and upset', is no longer Manchester United manager.
Manchester
United have since told Sky Sports that Van Gaal was referring to it
being the end of the season, when he said 'it's over.'
Van Gaal arrived back in Manchester by train with his wife Truus and posed for pictures with fans at Stockport station.
Reports
in Spain and on the BBC claimed on Saturday that former Chelsea manager
Jose Mourinho would be taking over next season, although they remained
unconfirmed by the club.
Mourinho
was pictured leaving his London home on Sunday after watching David
Haye destroy Arnold Gjergjaj in their heavyweight boxing clash at the O2
Arena on Saturday evening.
Super agent, and close friend, Jorges Mendes will arrive in England on Tuesday to conclude the deal for his Portuguese client.
The
64-year-old refused to discuss his future following the Wembley win,
instead saying; 'I show you the FA Cup and I don't discuss it with my
friends of the media who have already sacked me for six months.
'Which manager can do what I have done? I don't want to talk about leaving the club.'
Jesse Lingard strips off his shirt after scoring a sensational late volley to seal FA Cup victory
Van Gaal wo the first piece of silverware for United since former manager Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013
However,
Van Gaal's press conference sounded like a valedictory justification of
his two years at the club. 'We showed the same spirit we have shown all
the way to the final and when you do that, you can be very proud as
Manchester United manager and as fan when you receive the Cup,' he said.
'I
have said when I started as a manager that we are in a process on
transition. I have to refresh my squad and I've done it and despite the
many injuries this season, we are still in the race and now we have
lifted the Cup.
'That's
a title. And it is three years since United had a title. And I'm very
proud that I am the first manager after the period of Sir Alex Ferguson
to win a trophy. I have made a picture with him today because that's
history.'
And
he indicated that he had been held back during his two years at United
by the inability to land transfer targets and bad luck with injuries.
'Last
season I asked for players but you don't think the players I asked for
came. It is not so easy when United can't afford players.
The ticker tape falls as Manchester United players lift the FA Cup trophy after victory against Crystal Palace
The 64-year-old appeared to be bidding his final farewell to the fans after victory at Wembley
'When
United is coming the price is double, much more than double. Then you
have to realise whether you do that or not. Because the policy of this
club is to play with youth players and that we have also done that.
'I
need the players that I have asked for and you know that I said I want
creative fast wingers and we didn't do that because it was not possible.
But you are thinking that everything is possible in Manchester United.
But, no, I'm sorry it is not like that.
'When
you see our season with 14 injuries in the months of November and
December and also all the fullbacks were injured, how can you solve
that?
'You
cannot solve that. And I have taken the risk not to get a player,
because I have taken Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Timothy Fosu-Mensah.
Van Gaal has credited himself with bringing through young players like Lingard and Marcus Rashford (right)
Mourinho and Van Gaal shake hands after the 2010 Champions League final between Inter and Bayern Munich
'I
have taken the risk and now I ca be happy because we have won something
it is a very difficult decision to do that, because I gambled with
youngsters but I thought we need the speed of the youngsters.'
Asked
why the board had not backed him publicly through the season, Van Gaal
laughed and said: 'You would have followed the board?'
And
as a parting shot, in a press conference dominated by his future, he
said sarcastically: 'Thank you for the congratulations.'
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