• Premier League

Iron man Van Gaal unfazed by Mourinho mind games

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has claimed he is "made of iron" and will not get drawn into the mind games with the likes of Jose Mourinho or Arsene Wenger.

Van Gaal said he was not fond of his nickname of "The Iron Tulip" shortly after his arrival at United, but the Dutchman may have given that tag fresh impetus after claiming he will not be drawn into public verbal sparring matches.

And Van Gaal distanced himself from the tactics of former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who was a master of trying to influence matches with some well-placed pre-match comments.

"I'm made from a little bit of iron," Van Gaal told reporters. "So I have a shield, an iron shield. Everybody can write or speak about me and I cannot change that.

"It took me a long time to understand that, but I cannot change what you are writing about me. So I have learned not to react and to believe in myself, my players, my staff. That is important.

"Every human being reacts to what is said in his own way. You have to ask [Mourinho] why he reacts like he reacts, not me."

Van Gaal has backed his compatriot Robin van Persie to hit top form in the next few weeks, after finally reaching peak fitness following his exploits with Holland at last summer's World Cup finals.

"He scored in nearly every game for me in the World Cup, in spite of maybe his 80 percent fitness," added Van Gaal of Van Persie. "So maybe now he's playing better, but doesn't score as much.

"He has been a little bit unlucky, like against West Bromwich Albion when he shot with his right foot. It was hard to believe that that shot stayed out.

"So a striker needs also a bit of luck and then the confidence is higher, but he's self-confident so I expect he shall score. Maybe against Chelsea."

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