Louis van Gaal has described speculation that Manchester United are in discussions with José Mourinho as nonsense and complained that stories continually linking the former Chelsea manager with his job are hurtful to his family and friends.

“The last two months have been very difficult for my wife, my kids, my grandchildren and my friends to cope with,” the United manager said. “For me too, but I can cope. In the Netherlands they know I am too arrogant to doubt myself, but I also know that such a nonsense is being created about me. I do not believe that there is already a relationship between José Mourinho and Manchester United.”

United maintain a stance that there is no need to comment, even though the BBC was foremost among news organisations insisting contact has been made between Mourinho and the club. Whether that means Mourinho, or merely his agent, Jorge Mendes, is unclear. The latter appears to have been trying to push his client in United’s direction, although as a representative of several leading players he could have other reasons for liaising with the club.

Van Gaal accepts criticism as part of the job – “It is logical when you have lost four matches in a row, people are bound to be doubting” – though objects to misleading stories from Britain being reported as fact in his native Netherlands, which he says happened this week when it was claimed he had hired private security for his wife. “I criticise the media for inventing stories,” he said. “I never hired security. Never ever. And I am walking on the streets without security and all the people I meet are very positive.”

Van Gaal also claims he is making progress with his three-year process to overhaul his first-team squad, or will be once Champions League football is secured again for next season.

“If you look at the selection now to the one I took over there is no comparison,” he said. “When I came in there were eight or 10 players over the age of 30. I had to move some out, and people said I was wrong, but in the last 18 months players like Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have retired. They are not playing football any more.”