LVG Sparks Back Page Backlash
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal sparked a backlash on the back pages after his confrontational press conference in which he demanded an apology for all the newspaper specualtion surrounding his job.
Van Gaal stunned the assembled press pack at Carrington with a five-minute rant, accusing the reporters of trying to undermine him in his position at Old Trafford.
If the Dutchman thought he'd earned some sympathy from the press he was wrong as the headline writers showed no mercy.
"You're all out to get me..." was the headline in The Times, while the Daily Mail called him "Louis van Snarl" and The Mirror said "Tis the season to be Grumpy"
There was an apology in The Sun, albiet a backhanded one. The paper's headline read; 'We're Sorry', 'Sorry you've not won in 6 games', 'Sorry you went out of the Champions League', 'Sorry you've bored the fans to tears' and 'Sorry you've spent 250million pounds doing it.'
As he stormed out of the media conference van Gaal gave the jounalists his season's greetings saying as he walked past a table full of wine and mince pies which had been laid on for the media: I wish you a merry Christmas and also maybe a happy new year when I see you. Enjoy the wine and a mince pie.''
The Daily Star compares the showdown to another Christmas tradition - a pantomime, with the United boss as the baddie.
Picture credit: PA