Sunday 15 March 2015 19:32, UK
Louis van Gaal was angered by questions about Wayne Rooney's private life after a newspaper published a video of the Manchester United striker apparently being knocked unconscious during a 'lads night in' at his Cheshire home.
The video shows Rooney and his friend Phil Bardsley wearing boxing gloves and sparring playfully before the intensity increased and Rooney was knocked flat on his back by a left hand from the Stoke defender.
Rooney inspired his side to a 3-0 Premier League victory over Tottenham on Super Sunday at Old Trafford, scoring the third goal and celebrated by punching the air and then falling to the ground.
When asked for his opinion on the matter, Van Gaal answered by calling the whole episode "ridiculous".
I can't imagine we are talking about such a thing. That a newspaper are paying a lot for a video and that I have to answer questions about it. What is this world, twisted?
"In what sort of world do we live in?" he said.
"I can't imagine we are talking about such a thing. That a newspaper are paying a lot for a video and that I have to answer questions about it. What is this world, twisted?
"I think it is ridiculous that we have to talk about such things."
United, who had lost to Spurs' north London rivals Arsenal in the FA Cup on Monday night at Old Trafford, were two up within 19 minutes through Maroune Fellaini's fine finish from 12 yards and Michael Carrick's precise header.
Rooney grabbed the third after a rampaging run through the heart of the Tottenham back four.
The result leaves Spurs six points off fourth-placed United in the Premier League table, and means Van Gaal's side are now five points ahead of Liverpool, who travel to Swansea on Monday night.
The result adds further spice to next Sunday's meeting between United and Liverpool at Anfield and Van Gaal believes his side can take plenty from this performance into next week's showdown on Merseyside.
"Besides the first five minutes, we had control of the match, scored beautiful goals and we didn't give much away - we played very well," he said.
"I think after the first goal you can raise your confidence and you can play a little bit quicker but it's also because Tottenham want to play football. You always need two clubs to play football.
"We've made a very big first step but now we have to go to Liverpool, who is a competitor of ours."
