Louis van Gaal is an impressive human being. Paint it anyway you want it but to have the self confidence (some might say arrogance) that he does in the face of such fervent criticism is a trait that many of us would love to have. The Man United boss is nothing if not confident and it could well be that confidence that's keeping him in a job.
David Moyes greatest downfall was the blatant lack of a Man United aura. That's an awfully waffly thing to say but it's true. When things started to go against him he shrunk into himself and the press started to get on top of him until he was a shadow of the man who walked in the door with Fergie's stamp of approval puffed out on his chest.
This time around, the results are no different but the man who has to deal with the flack certainly is. So when it comes to the latest round of criticism, Van Gaal did what he does best. He fronted up with all the confidence of a man who's been around the block more than once.
First up in today's press conference is the belief that United fans should be happy with their current lot amid increasing anger from the Old Trafford stands.
You have to be happy as a Manchester United fan that we are in next round and we have won the last two games.
He then went on to deliver the quote that is understandably being picked up more than any. The reason that Old Trafford was looking rather bare by the time Wayne Rooney tucked home a penalty to edge the home side past Sheffield United was that everyone wanted to beat the traffic.
They are not thinking that we would score, I think, and maybe also because of the traffic that they leave the stadium a few minutes early. There are many reasons.
The traffic comment is the one that is being picked up upon but to be fair he does begin that by pointing to the fact that everyone could see that it was looking increasingly unlikely that United would score past their lower league opposition. His quotes sometimes get lost in translation but you have to think Van Gaal knows exactly what he's saying. His style of play may not be everyone's cup of tea but his self confidence even at the worst of times really is a joy to behold.
