Van Gaal doesn't think that would stop him from taking his job

Jose Mourinho has been widely tipped to replace him at Old Trafford

The Dutchman has come under scrutiny for some disappointing results

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has admitted he wouldn't expect his friend Jose Mourinho to tell him about any negotiations going on with the club regarding next season.

Van Gaal is sticking to his belief that United have not gone behind his back to speak to Mourinho, whose first formal coaching job was as his assistant at Barcelona.

But the Dutchman is not naïve and says there is no honour among managers even though he still has nearly 18 months left on his contract at Old Trafford.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has come under pressure after some disappointing results

Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is widely expected to replace Van Gaal in the Old Trafford dugout

Chris Smalling, Morgan Schneiderlin and Wayne Rooney look dejected after United's 2-1 defeat by Sunderland

Asked if he had spoken to Mourinho to clarify the situation, Van Gaal said: 'No. In the football world that doesn't happen. I was chairman of the coaches federation in the Netherlands and we had a rule that you can never talk with a club without informing the present manager.

'But sometimes it has been broken by people and by managers. It is always like that. It is not always an honest world.'

Manchester United are in danger of missing out Champions League football next season

Ironically, Van Gaal was in a similar position when he accepted the Barcelona manager's job in 1997 even though Sir Bobby Robson still had a year to run on his contract.

When Sir Bobby confronted Van Gaal and said he hadn't known about him coming in, the Dutchman offered to stand aside for a year so Robson could finish his contract.

In the end, Robson agreed to let Van Gaal take over and he stayed at Barca on his manager's salary but under a new title of chief scout worldwide.

Van Gaal takes United to Denmark on Thursday to face Midtjylland in the Europa League. The competition winners qualify automatically for the Champions League which would save United's season if they finish outside the top four in the Premier League.

'Winning the Europa League would be a successful season because then we have fulfilled our aim which is to qualify for the Champions League,' he said.

United winger Jesse Lingard breaks clear ahead of Sunderland's Jack Rodwell at the Stadium of Light