Louis van Gaal has insisted there is no rift between him and Ed Woodward, with the executive vice-chairman having been called into question following the transfer of Pedro to Chelsea on Thursday.
United had been interested in the Barcelona forward, who had a £21.1m (€30m) release clause in his contract, before dropping any intent to buy this week. While Van Gaal was reluctant to be drawn on the subject of the Spaniard joining Chelsea, the manager did defend Woodward, who is thought to have been to Spain earlier in the week to try and tie up the deal.
“I have the idea that you want to separate Ed Woodward with me,” said Van Gaal. “No, never. Every day I am updated by him and I trust him. I don’t think they [the fans] have to doubt Ed Woodward because he has proven already for many years he is the right person on the right spot.”
Van Gaal denied ever saying he wanted to buy Pedro, only that the 28-year-old fitted the “profile” for his squad. “I cannot answer these questions [on Pedro], you know that. I have said it before, that what we are doing is a process. In that process we make decisions and I think when we wanted Pedro, it was not any problem. That is because there was a clause in his contract, so it was the easiest transfer.
“You can write what you want, but we cannot say what we want, that is the difference. I have the responsibility of protecting the interests of my club and my players. If you ask me if Pedro is fitting the profile [of United], I cannot lie. I say yes, but I didn’t say I am interested in the player, that is the difference. He is fast and he is creative. That is why I understand the question [about whether he fits the profile].”
Van Gaal said he would be happy to reach the close of the transfer window on 1 September with his current squad. “You can see my selection and you can see for every position we have a double. We don’t have to change, but when we can improve we shall do that, but only in our way.
“We want to improve, but our way, not the way that people are saying. When we buy it has to be a contribution to our selection and not against any price.”
Manchester City signed Nicolás Otamendi from Valencia on Thursday for £32m. Van Gaal dismissed any notion he was interested in the Argentina defender. “I have never spoken about any defender and you are asking me about Otamendi,” the manager said. “Also [you say] that Manchester City was quick, quicker than Manchester United. I think when Manchester United wants a player he shall come, besides when the club is not selling. It is the same with us, when we are not selling [David] de Gea.”
The manager hinted Bastian Schweinsteiger, who came on as a half-time substitute for Michael Carrick against Club Brugge on Tuesday, may make his first start when Newcastle United visit on Saturday. But Van Gaal refused to deny an interest in Southampton’s Sadio Mané. “I cannot answer that question either, because then I interfere and I don’t want to interfere. Ed Woodward is doing the things and he does it very well I think.”
The defender Phil Jones, who is recovering from a mild thrombosis, will not return until after the international break on 12 September. “He is getting better, I have to say that,” said Van Gaal. “He is running now on the pitch, but he shall not be fit enough until after the international break. I hope, because this is also a process.”
