Tottenham vs. Manchester United: Louis van Gaal's Key Pre-Match Presser Quotes

Manchester United’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur is a “must win” game according to the club’s manager Louis van Gaal, who also confirmed the match will come too soon for recovering captain Wayne Rooney.

The Red Devils visit White Hart Lane knowing they face an almighty challenge if they’re to overcome Mauricio Pochettino’s title chasers. However, the Dutchman was adamant in his Friday press conference that his team, who remain in a tussle with West Ham United and Manchester City for a UEFA Champions League spot, have to pick up three points, per the club’s Twitter feed:

Currently United are in fifth spot in the league, sandwiched between the two aforementioned sides. City occupy fourth, one point clear of their local rivals, while West Ham are two points back on the Red Devils after their impressive campaign.

Van Gaal also had some positive news for Red Devils supporters on the injury front. Rooney has been missing since mid February, and the manager insisted his skipper will continue his return to fitness in an under-21s game on Monday:

He explained his thinking behind giving the England international this run out, per the Times’ Paul Hirst:

The former Netherlands boss also spoke of how returning players can give him a selection headache, although it's the kind of dilemma he welcomes given recent injury woes.

“It makes my job more easy because I can select better, but it makes the time for my players a little bit more difficult,” he said, per Ben Burrows of the Daily Mirror. “There was a time when I could select only the fit players, but now with all the youngsters who have proven they are capable of playing, and all those coming back, I have a bigger squad.”

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There’s been a lot of speculation about the veteran boss’ future this week. According to Ed Malyon of the Daily Mirror, United are battling Real Madrid for Jose Mourinho, who they want to take over from Van Gaal at the end of the season. De Telegraf (h/t James Orr of the Independent) reported the Dutchman is set to stay at the club.

According to Geoff Sweet of the Sun, Van Gaal has also turned down the chance to work in the Netherlands again as a technical director for the Dutch football association. That’s something he refused to confirm or deny on Friday.

“I don’t want to respond to these type of questions because what I discuss with the federation has to be between them and me,” he said, per Burrows. “It is the same as what I discuss with the board.”

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Talk then turned to Van Gaal’s admirable record in big games, a topic he seemed pleased to discuss, per BBC Sport’s Simon Stone:

The 64-year-old also took time out to pay tribute to United's Sunday opponents, particularly manager Pochettino. 

“He has made a team of this squad, a team that presses high with a good positional game and they score a lot of goals,” Van Gaal stated on Friday, per the club’s official website. “They also have a lot of clean sheets though, which show they are a well-organised and structured team. I think you can give credit to [Pochettino].”

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Van Gaal also revealed a couple of players who have been sidelined for a while could feature in this one:

A visit to White Hart Lane is going to be a very difficult test for the Red Devils and a match that could ultimately determine whether United are in the hunt for a Champions League spot in the final knockings of he campaign. Van Gaal, who has done well in marquee games during his tenure, will need a savvy blueprint.

By the time United kick off on Sunday, they could feasibly trail City by four points and West Ham by one in the battle for the last remaining top four spot.

It’s a circumstance in which defeat would be a major blow, and as the end of the season approaches, a loss would surely heap more massive pressure on Van Gaal with rumours about his future swirling.