Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has admitted that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho would not provoke him by his mind games.
The former Real Madrid manager took a swipe at the Red Devils for spending heavily in landing Luke Shaw as Mourinho says the West London club could not afford signing the left-back.
The Portuguese tactician was a part of Van Gaal’s coaching staff during his time at Barcelona.
United boss says that Mourinho will not be able have any impact by playing a psychological battle against Van Gaal. The Dutchman also says his side’s clash against Chelsea will be between two teams and not between two managers.
“I play against Chelsea and not against Jose Mourinho. My team and his team are playing against each other. No. He shall not do that with me. I’m not reacting to that kind of stuff,” The Telegraph reported Van Gaal as saying.
United finished seventh last season, while their derby rivals Manchester City won the Premier League. Van Gaal is not wary of the threat the Citizens will pose as he believes the Red Devils are capable of becoming the champions next season.
“It does not bother me whether they are 10 metres away or 30 kilometres away,” United manager explained.
“It [City’s success] is amazing because they were not a big club and now they are already champions and they have also won cups in the last three years.”
“They are knocking at the door, but that is good for Manchester United also because where there is competition you can be proud when you are the champion at the end and maybe we will be the champions,” Van Gaal said.
United will surely face competition from Chelsea and City, while Liverpool and Arsenal will compete and challenge in the title race. The upcoming campaign is going to exciting as there would b five clubs challenge for the Premier League title.
One of the five teams will miss out on a place in the Champions League and with United already missing for the upcoming campaign, Van Gaal would b hoping his side can qualify for the Champions League by winning the league title.
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