Louis van Gaal has blamed criticism from Paul Scholes for influencing Manchester United’s fans against him but said he would not dream of asking Ryan Giggs to try and silence his Class of 92 team-mate.

The United manager said he had been used to his methods coming under fire since he first started at Ajax but he said his problem with Scholes was that, as a respected former player, he was helping create a negative atmosphere among supporters.

“In my first year at Ajax, it was not a happy year for me,” he told The Independent. “I took over from Leo Beenhakker and we lost the first three matches, so what do you think the fans were yelling? ‘Cruyff,’ for a whole year.

“I have always coped with that kind of thing. Barcelona is a very critical environment, because the result and the performance is very important. In England, it is more the result than performance, only when Paul Scholes started he influenced a certain amount of fans.”

Scholes’ friend Giggs sits next to Van Gaal on the bench at United where he has notably kept his own counsel about the manager’s methods but the Dutchman said he would never think of asking his No2 to intercede on his behalf.

“No, I don’t think that I have to give Ryan stress in his friendship with Scholes,” he said. “I have managed all of my career, so it would not be good or honest of me to ask Ryan to say something.

“What Scholes is thinking, he has to think it. Every human being can give his opinion. I don’t bother about that, I think it is good. But my problem is when you create an atmosphere, a very negative atmosphere for somebody, so maybe he should be more positive.”

Paul Scholes’ standing with the fans is causing problems for Van Gaal. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

Van Gaal has wider concerns than being accused of having a team that looks bored by a disgruntled television pundit, with rumours swirling around Manchester that José Mourinho – who coached with him at Barcelona - is being lined up to replace him.

Van Gaal said the club had not said anything to him and was under the assumption that they had not been in contact with the former Chelsea manager over his job.

“I have not said that we have spoken, but he is my friend, so there you go,” Van Gaal said. “But I don’t know if Manchester United have spoken with Mourinho or not.”

Van Gaal said he had spoken with United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward “and I cannot imagine that they have spoken with each other. I think that if they speak with another manager, they would tell me because our relationship is like that. But I think that, if they want to change, they have to prepare themselves. That is also a professional attitude, in my opinion.

“If they are thinking that they want to replace me, they have to prepare and they have to inquire,” Van Gaal said. “But if it is like that, they have to say it to me. And I believe they will tell me if it is like that. I not only have a strong relationship with Ed, but also with the Glazers. I have a good feeling with the Glazers also.

“And that is why I am annoyed with all the publicity. I have been ‘sacked’ three times and now it is about negotiations starting with José Mourinho. The next time, it will be another [manager].”