Man Utd boss Louis van Gaal launches scathing attack on British media

Posted Friday, March 06, 2015 by Thesportreview.com

The Manchester United boss feels that he has been misquoted on a number of occasions by the media this season

Louis van Gaal has accused the British media of repeatedly twisting his words as the Manchester United manager criticised journalists in the wake of his side's victory at Newcastle on Wednesday night.

Van Gaal watched his side secure a dramatic 1-0 win at St James' Park thanks to Ashley Young's 89th-minute winner as the Red Devils continued their bid for Champions League qualification.

The Dutchman's side have won five of their last seven Premier League games and are currently just a point behind third-placed Arsenal as the race for a top-four finish hots up.

However, the former Barcelona coach has found himself under scrutiny for his side's unadventurous style of play in recent weeks.

Speaking to BT Sport after Wednesday's win at St James' Park, Van Gaal said that he has become wary of giving his views to the media after two recent examples in which he felt he was misquoted.

"What can I say?" replied Van Gaal when asked if he is surprised by the constant debate about United's style of play. "When I say something positive then they are twisting my words and I'm not happy with that.

"For example, I didn't say that we were the best team in the league - the best team in the league is Chelsea because they have the most points.

"But when the media is saying to me that we are the best team in the last 15 matches then I say 'yes, that's true', because these are facts.

"But then it's not really fair to put in the papers that Van Gaal said we were the best team in the league."

The United boss continued: "For example, the last time they put the question [to me] that I don't have a striker with 20 goals. I said that I cannot deny it because there is also no other striker in the Premier League who has made 20 goals.

"At this time, Van Persie has made 10 goals and I'm fairly pleased because a striker is not only a scorer but also he is an attacking point. But then they don't say it.

"I say only the words that I cannot deny that they [any of United's strikers] have not scored 20 goals - and then they are twisting my words, so what can I answer to the question you put? It's very difficult."

United are next in action when they host Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Monday night.