Manchester United FC: Media has sacked me three times already, says Louis van Gaal

New Delhi: Under pressure Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has said that the media has already given him the sack three times ahead of the side's crucial FA Cup encounter against Derby.

Van Gaal who saw his side lose against Southampton in the Premier League encounter on Saturday, saw subsequent media reports suggesting that the Dutchman, had offered to resign.

"You make your stories and people believe it. I am concerned they are believing it. You can write what you do. It is the third time I am sacked and I am still sitting here,” said the Dutchman.

The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona manager knows that he cannot afford to lose against Derby in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

"Now I cannot lose any more - then for the fourth time that I have been sacked."

"Maybe then you have written the truth because sometimes it happens," he said.

Speculations are running high that a FA Cup defeat by Derby on Friday could get him the sack.

United are 10 points off Premier League leaders Leicester, five points behind Tottenham in fourth place and out of the Champions League.

The 64-year-old on Thursday also praised the "fantastic" support of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and said and FA Cup win could be his saviour - as it proved for Sir Alex Ferguson in January 1990.

When asked on whether the FA Cup could become his saviour, Van Gaal added: "Of course. But when you lose it is more worse."

(With Agency inputs)