Louis van Gaal says he has 'absolutely no need' to defend himself against recent comments made by Adnan Januzaj regarding his time at Manchester United.
Januzaj is set to face United in the Europa League with new club Real Sociedad on Thursday and has been reflecting on his time at Old Trafford ahead of the match.
Speaking to MEN Sport the 26-year-old claimed he could still be playing for United had his development been overseen by the right coaches when Van Gaal was in charge.
"At the end of the day, I didn't have the right people that were working with me, so it was more difficult for me to play," Januzaj told the MEN. "I didn't want to leave United but when you don't get game-time, you're not happy because of a few people, then you cannot stay there and you have to move on and play your football somewhere else.
"It was the staff - his (Van Gaal's) staff because I had to do whatever he was saying. I was a young boy, I just had to stay calm and, like we say, I just had to shut up and work on the pitch! That's it. That's the most you could do, there's nothing else you could do. You just had to accept it and enjoy and play for your football."
The winger's career at United plateaued following the sacking of David Moyes with Januzaj managing just 28 appearances under successor Van Gaal before being loaned to Borussia Dortmund.
However, the Dutch veteran has now hit back at Januzaj's claims that he was to blame by suggesting the lack of game time was solely down to the Belgian.
"I have absolutely no need to defend myself against so much injustice!" Van Gaal is quoted in an email response to The Athletic. "The self-image of players leaves the wishes!
"And my career as a coach/manager shows just how many young players could take their chances under my leadership!
"With a kind box,
"LvG."
