Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal thanked executive vice chairman Ed Woodward for his support yesterday as he denied reports he had offered to resign. Van Gaal has faced a trying week following the home defeat by Southampton which saw the Old Trafford crowd turn on the veteran Dutch manager. But Woodward has been steadfast in his support of van Gaal, who has 18 months remaining on his contract, and appears determined to keep him in place until at least the end of the season.
Reports suggested van Gaal had even offered to resign following the Southampton setback and that Jose Mourinho had been increasingly put forward as a potential replacement should United decide to make a change. But van Gaal’s position appears safe for the time being, although he conceded that the unwavering support of Woodward and the board bring with it a greater level of pressure.
“It is fantastic of course, but that also gives you a lot of pressure,” he told a news conference yesterday. “When the board has such confidence, the pressure is much higher than when they say it is your last game or something like that,” said van Gaal, speaking ahead of Friday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie away to second-tier Derby County.
“When your confidence is not so high, you can fight against it. When you can fight, you have bigger motivation than when they support you. But I am always fighting.”
Van Gaal’s fighting spirit has certainly been tested to the full of late. United have fallen well out of title contention and now look to be struggling even to secure a top four finish and, with it, an all-important place in the Champions League.
But van Gaal insisted that, contrary to reports, he had never offered to resign. “I have not mentioned that, ever,” he said. “This is the third time that I have been ‘sacked’ and I am still sitting here for you. I have always faced this (scrutiny).”
Van Gaal also appeared far more upbeat, and defiant, than had been the case following the Southampton defeat when he apologised to United supporters. “It is always like that when you lose a game, certainly in the last minute, that you are fed up,” he said.  
“How we have played is not always the main issue because you can play badly and win. When that happens, you are not so fed up. But we have played very well and lost, like Chelsea away last season, so when that happens you are more fed up than ever.
“It is your duty as a manager and a player to stand up again and do what you do because that is a professional attitude,” he insisted. United needed a stoppage-time Wayne Rooney penalty to overcome third-tier Sheffield United in round three and the United captain is anticipating another testing evening at the iPro Stadium, where United won 4-1 in the fifth round in 2009.
Derby, managed by former Real Madrid assistant coach Paul Clements, go into the game on the back of a heavy 4-1 loss to Championship promotion rivals Burnley, which left them fifth in England’s second division.
But Clements is relishing the chance to lead his players out against United, who Derby last overcame in the FA Cup in 1897. “What a challenge, to play one of arguably the biggest clubs in world football,” he told the Derby website.
“It’s clear they’re not having the best time themselves at the moment, but it’s an opportunity for two teams to come together and put in a performance. It’s going to be nice to put ourselves up against a very good side with world-class players, and a fantastic coach in Van Gaal.”
Van Gaal’s defensive injury problems continue to mount, with right-back Matteo Darmian, who sustained a rib injury against Southampton, joining Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia, Marcos Rojo and auxiliary full-back Ashley Young on the sidelines. Central midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is also unavailable with a knee injury.  Derby could award a debut to Swedish international left-back Marcus Olsson, who signed from Blackburn Rovers this week.
Holders Arsenal continue their quest for a third successive FA Cup trophy—a feat last achieved by Blackburn between 1884 and 1886 -- at home to Burnley tomorrow. Arsenal squandered an opportunity to regain top spot in the Premier League last Sunday when they lost 1-0 at home to Chelsea, which left them without a win in three games.
Liverpool host West Ham United tomorrow, while Manchester City visit the Premier League’s bottom club, Aston Villa. Liverpool and Manchester City both reached the League Cup final in midweek.
Guus Hiddink’s quest to repeat his 2009 FA Cup triumph with Chelsea continues on Sunday when his side visit second-tier Milton Keynes Dons, who famously humiliated Manchester United—and Van Gaal -- 4-0 in last season’s League Cup.

FA CUP Fixtures
Today (1945 GMT): Derby County v
Manchester United
Tomorrow (1500 GMT unless otherwise stated): Arsenal v Burnley, Aston Villa v Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United, Bury v Hull City, Colchester United v Tottenham Hotspur (1245 GMT), Crystal Palace v Stoke City, Liverpool v West Ham United (1730 GMT), Nottingham Forest v Watford, Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers, Portsmouth v Bournemouth, Reading v Walsall, Shrewsbury Town v Sheffield Wednesday, West Bromwich Albion v Peterborough United
Sunday: Carlisle United v Everton (1330 GMT), Milton Keynes Dons v Chelsea (1600)