Was Louis Van Gaal Justified in Feeling Upset with Media Speculation?
"Enjoy the wine and a mince pie. Goodbye."
If Louis van Gaal had the right microphone, he could have dropped it—Chris Rock style—and walked off. Instead, he just left, per BBC Sport.
During a five-minute soliloquy, as shown by BT Sport's official Twitter page, Manchester United's embattled manager—in response to questions about his future—took the media to task.
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The Dutchman asked journalists in attendance for an apology. Scanning the room with laser eyes, finding no takers, Van Gaal proceeded to chastise the media for rumours suggesting he was getting (or was set to be) sacked.
Managers, especially high-profile ones, exist in a rather complex environment. Every move they make is scrutinised, each result is dissected to the point of nausea and their anger blossoms into crisis.
Claiming he received calls from family, friends, legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson and United chairman Ed Woodward, the 64-year-old appeared visibly frustrated by recent reports.
After concluding his opening/closing statements by wishing happy holidays and offering refreshments in the back of the press room, Van Gaal—in almost singular fashion—forsook the presser.
Some newspapers, as exemplified by the Sun, gave the United manager his desired apology, but only belatedly and facetiously:
"Thursday's Sun back page: Sorry #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #mufc #LVG pic.twitter.com/nVGKnh2Wjk
— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) December 23, 2015"
We live in a society that, regrettably, tends to shun verisimilitude when rumours are more entertaining. Van Gaal, instead of ignoring the vultures surrounding his Manchester United tenure, played into the growing narrative—the birds, unsurprisingly, have grown in number.
Results for Manchester United have been conspicuously dire. In their last six games, the Red Devils have three draws and three losses. Their most recent win came at Watford on November 21, provided by Troy Deeney's 90th-minute own goal.
Questions surrounding Van Gaal's position are entirely warranted. Free-falling, the English giants were in first place to start October, but—should they return from Stoke City empty-handed—they could be seventh at Boxing Day's close.
Under certain criteria, journalists are well within their right to investigate and report on these situations, but at what point does due diligence become gross speculation?
Asking whether Van Gaal should be sacked is entirely different from reports—as exemplified by the Independent's Mark Ogden—that the Dutchman could be sacked during the Christmas period, making it seem a near formality.
The day's version of truth is necessary but largely inconsequential. Whatever happens (United's manager staying or going) will be spun into a story. The underlying discussion after yesterday's press-conference shenanigans is: Are Van Gaal's feelings (or anyone's feelings really) worth upsetting to report that day's version of truth?
In a perfect world, they are not. Who enjoys upsetting people? Maybe a select few, but the decent among us have no desire to wind others up. Our problem is we do not live in a perfect world, we live on Earth. Here, meddling with a few feelings for the day's version of truth is negligible.
The argument could be made with Manchester United's profile as the globe's most recognisable footballing brand not named Real Madrid or Barcelona, that the manger of that enterprise should be able to cope with massive pressure. It is a compelling case, especially taking their current form into account, but lacks a certain sympathy.
Far be it from the media to pity millionaire managers and millionaire players about their recent brand of putrid football, but one could easily see how the snowball effect of poor results, losing confidence, growing supporter ire and increased speculation could destabilise even the most experienced of heads.
Was Van Gaal justified in leaving his press conference in that manner? Of course not, justification suggests innocence. What he could be, however, is pardoned.
Labouring through one of the worst spells in his decorated career, then reading about his projected future without much—if any—concrete sourcing, would crack most managers.
Compounded by mandatory press obligations—where the media asks you about their own stories—it might induce some version of madness.
The only way for Van Gaal to mute speculation about his Manchester United future is beating Stoke—possibly with some imaginative, vigorously styled football. Winning has a way of masking whatever stench, thrusting attention in other directions across the Premier League's spectrum.
Three points equal projected salvation, anything less—projected damnation. It isn't pretty, or always correct, but that's the way these things operate.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.
