Van Gaal slams `nonsense` Mourinho-United links

London : Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has described speculations linking Jose Mourinho with the Old Trafford club as ‘nonsense’.

Mourinho has been heavily linked with United after being sacked by Chelsea in December. He led the Stamford Bridge club to Premier League glory in the 2014-15 season.

Louis van Gaal, who claimed that media had invented stories about him, also declined to accept that there was already a relationship between Mourinho and United.

Earlier, Van Gaal endured severe criticism from the club’s fans as well as former players over his conservative approach and due to repeated poor performances by the team, with the Dutchman facing mounting pressure after United suffered an embarrassing exit from the Champions League at the group stage.

However, United bounced back to produce ‘sparkling’ football with two convincing back-to-back wins lately.

Welcoming criticism against him, the Dutchman said that it was obvious to receive the criticism especially after losing four matches in a row, the Guardian reported.

United are currently fifth in the league table and are 10 points behind surprise pace setters Leicester City. They will next lock horns with 13th-placed Chelsea on Sunday. (ANI)