Louis van Gaal denies resigning as Manchester United manager in angry tirade

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has denied he offered to resign after the Premier League defeat to Southampton and has attack the media for "awful and horrible" reports regarding his exit from the Old Trafford hotseat. Widespread media stories suggested the Dutch coach wanted to cut short his three-year contract with the club after the 1-0 loss last Saturday (23 January).

But in an angry tirade directed towards the media, Van Gaal has quashed reports, according to The Guardian among others, attempted to leave the club and says he is ready to turn their fortunes around. United are five points off the Champions League places and face Derby County in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday [29 January] in one of their last chances to win a major trophy this season.

"I think I don't have mentioned that ever," the United boss responded when questioned whether he had offered his resignation, according to BBC Sport. "You make your own stories. Then I have to answer. I am not doing that. It is awful and horrible but you can write. It is the third time I am sacked and I am still sitting here. I am obliged to do that (attend press conferences). I have certain people who I like because they ask a question in a respectful way. A lot of people ask questions in a disrespectful way. I have always faith.

"When you lose it is worse. I predicted before Southampton. Now I cannot lose any more because then for the fourth time I have been sacked. Then it might be the truth. When you lose a game, especially in the last minute, you are fed up. But it is your duty as a manager and a player to stand up again and to do what you have to do, because that is a professional attitude."

Van Gaal is the bookmakers' favourite to be the next Premier League manager to leave his post following the loss to Saints via Charlie Austin late header. The reaction at full-time to United's fifth home defeat of the season suggests supporters are also turning on Van Gaal, and he has welcomed support from executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

"It's fantastic of course, but also that gives you a lot of pressure, because when the board has such confidence in you, then the pressure is much higher than when they say it's your last game or something like that," he added ahead of United's trip to Pride Park. "When your confidence is not so high, you can fight against it, but I always fight. I am always fighting. When you fight, you have a bigger motivation than when they support you."