Van Gaal Expresses Disappointment Over Jose Mourinho's Manchester United Talks

Louis van Gaal has insisted that he's sure Manchester United board will inform him if they had approached Jose Mourinho as his replacement at Old Trafford

The Dutch tactician has been under-fire at the club over the performances of his team, who are still

not within the top four teams after 26 games in the English Premier League.

United have refused to deny reports they have spoken to Mourinho in recent weeks following their team's slump and the former Chelsea boss is said to have made it clear he is ready to replace Van Gaal if the Dutchman is sacked or departs at the end of the season.

Van Gaal concedes it is plausible the club have made contact with Mourinho in secret, but he is hoping that is not the case.

"Then I shall be disappointed (if contact has been made)," he said.

"Because that is the consequence of what I have said. In a football world that is possible, I know, but I do not think that.

"I have a relationship with (executive vice chairman) Ed (Woodward) and the Glazers. They (would) tell me I think."

Meanwhile, Jamie Vardy is adamant Leicester City remain unfazed by the mounting pressure of the title race as the shock leaders prepare for a summit meeting with Arsenal on Sunday.

For the first time this season, Claudio Ranieri's side find themselves the bookmakers' favourites to be crowned champions after their fairytale rise reached a new high with last weekend's stunning 3-1 win at title rivals Manchester City.

The Foxes sit five points clear of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur and third-placed Arsenal with just 13 games remaining and the previously unthinkable prospect of the unfashionable outfit winning a first ever top-flight title is now a genuine possibility.

But the task of successfully completing an unexpected title bid proved too much for Liverpool in the closing weeks of the 2013-14 season and many pundits still believe Leicester's unheralded players, who only last year were fighting to avoid relegation, will crumble in similar style.

However, England striker Vardy insists there are no signs of any nerves in the camp ahead of this weekend's crucial clash with the Gunners in north London.

"We're just enjoying it, aren't we? We're enjoying the ride," Vardy said. "If you start thinking about it too much it's going to affect you. It's as simple as that.

"We'll just continue to do exactly the same thing we've done all season.

"Arsenal are up there, we're up there, (Manchester) City are. We'll just take every game as it comes, knuckle down and hopefully keep picking points up." Supersport