Louis van Gaal Slams Reporter, Says Manchester United Bigger Than Tottenham

Following Sunday's match, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal branded a journalist "pathetic" for asking if he regrets passing on the Tottenham Hotspur job in 2014 and insisted United will always be a bigger club, according to the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel:

"

In the balance we (United) are still ahead (of Tottenham) and you take one match as something that I have to say the challenge is bigger. 

The challenge is always bigger in a bigger club. I like Tottenham and Daniel Levy knows that but the challenge is bigger in Manchester United and shall always be bigger. 

I am sorry for Tottenham but Manchester United will always be the bigger club. I think it is pathetic you use one game to say that but that is up to you.

"

Spurs beat United 3-0 at White Hart Lane on Sunday, scoring all three goals in a six-minute spell in the second half.

Sky Sports News HQ shared video of Van Gaal's response to the question in his press conference:

Shortly after accepting the United job at the end of 2013-14 season, the Dutchman said he had been "very close" to taking the Spurs role that winter—a position that was ultimately given to Tim Sherwood and then Mauricio Pochettino around the time Van Gaal went to Old Trafford, per the Guardian's Jamie Jackson.

The two clubs have gone in very different directions since then with Van Gaal's underachieving United proving uninspiring and tedious, while Pochettino's Spurs have cast off their reputation for failure and would be on course for the Premier League title if not for Leicester City's fairytale campaign.

Former Tottenham striker Gary Lineker believes the Argentinian can guide the club to great success if he can keep his best players:

The contrast between the two clubs' fortunes has never been more apparent than on Sunday as the Lilywhites handily dismissed the Red Devils to keep their title hopes alive.

Squawka Football highlighted United's rapid collapse and the significance of the result:

The poor performance and resulting scoreline has naturally piled yet more pressure on Van Gaal, whose side are at serious risk of missing out on the UEFA Champions League for the second time in three years.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher gave his verdict and believes if United fail to finish in the top four this season the 64-year-old will be relieved of his duties. Per the Daily Star's Jamie Styles, he said:

"

It looks like they're going backwards. In terms of [Van Gaal] I don't see him at the club next year if he doesn't get top four.

Manchester United are a much bigger team than Tottenham, although Tottenham have a better side at the moment, and [Van Gaal] is talking about how well they played.

The fact we're saying United played well, we even mentioned it at half-time. That's United playing well now, without ever looking like scoring in that first half.

[Tottenham] could have scored five or six today. [Anthony] Martial had the one chance at 0-0, but that's what it's come to now, where Van Gaal is actually pleased that they just gave Tottenham a game.

"

Football writer Liam Canning was among many to criticise the performance and the former Bayern Munich manager:

Van Gaal particularly attracted ire for his decision to bring on Ashley Young as a centre-forward and leave Martial wide on the left, per football writer Chris Winterburn:

Despite the many successes he's had in football, Tottenham fans will likely feel they've dodged a bullet in missing out on Van Gaal, while there are many United supporters who would probably prefer to have Pochettino in charge at Old Trafford. 

For United to match Tottenham next season—not to mention provide a challenge for Antonio Conte's Chelsea, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City and perhaps even Claudio Ranieri's Leicester City—a fresh start is needed.