"Louis van Gaal was in an angry mood from the moment he took his seat in the media room at the club's training ground in Carrington."

Read more about the brief news conference here.

Image source, Empics

Your reaction to Louis van Gaal's Manchester United press conference, which saw him walk out after criticising the media speculation surrounding his future...

Rory Taylor: LVG may be wrong bloke but Fergie wouldn't have survived his early years with today's media. Which should make people think.

Karmadrome: Don't understand the disrespect of Man U's LVG. How can anyone question a manager who can guide United to the Europa League?

Desmond Oguda: LVG just did a Mourinho-esque presser. English journos have been used to such this season. Won't do him any good though.

Alan Curtis: "Part of the equation would be if we were to win a couple of games then probably the need is not so great, but if we lost a few more games then that pushes for a quicker decision on somebody."

Chairman Huw Jenkins has already held talks with the former Argentina Boss Marcelo Bielsa but Sheffield Wednesday manager Carlos Carvalhal is the latest name to be linked with the post.

Image source, Getty Images

"I know that Sheffield Wednesday have picked up a little bit," said Curtis.

"I know he's got a good reputation, I'm not sure if he's been linked to our job. I guess it's another name to Google."

Swansea go into the Boxing Day game at home to West Brom with just one win in their last 13 Premier League games and inside the bottom three, two points from safety.

But Curtis is confident they can turn things around.

"We probably feel aggrieved a little bit that we are in this position," the caretaker boss said. "We feel as if we should be a top-half side.

"When you look at the quality of the players we've got, lots of them are internationals.

"It's just been a realisation in the last couple of weeks just how good the players are, and that's why they are international footballers. That's why I feel really confident that we will get out of trouble."

Dutch football journalist Elko Born says Louis van Gaal has previous for press conference antics...

Image source, Getty Images

And given what's just occurred at Old Trafford, maybe this poem from an understanding Sportsday reader will cheer Louis van Gaal up a bit.

Sean: Lots of the fans and media, Used to call it a disgrace, But Louis the Red Devil manager, Will get us a Champions League space.

Feeling better now Louis?

Your reaction to Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal walking out of his press conference...

Max Downton: Complete sympathy for Van Gaal - our media is a relentless joke with no punchline.

Joe Wedgwood: Good for Van Gaal! Utd fans should be proud to have boss who'll stand his own. Disgusting treatment by media AND fans of late!

Kishore Mukherjee: That reaction from LVG was no less then the media deserved for a blatant lack of respect he and others are given daily.  

Not quite as dramatic over at Swansea, but fairly interesting stuff nonetheless.

Alan Curtis says he's happy to carry on as Swansea City caretaker manager "for as long as it takes" and that "there's no real news" on the club's search for a new boss.

He's set to be in charge for both of the Swans Christmas fixtures against West Brom and Crystal Palace following the sacking of Garry Monk, and could even still be at the helm for the trip to Manchester United on 2 January and the FA Cup third round tie at Oxford.

Image source, Getty Images

"I'm quite happy to carry on," Curtis said. "It is important that we appoint somebody sooner rather than later but the important thing is that it's the right man.

"I'll carry on for as long as it takes. If it means just for the game on the weekend or if it means a little bit further we're all prepared to do exactly what it takes to make sure the club continues to show the improvement on the field and pick up some points as well."

And here is Louis van Gaal's parting shot before calmly getting up and walking out of the news conference...

"You have to stick by the facts and when I get calls off Alex Ferguson and David Gill and Ed Woodward because you are creating something what is not good and not being the facts. Now I have to answer questions. I don't think I want to do it. I am focused on Stoke City and help my players, I wish you a merry Christmas and maybe a happy new year when I see you. Enjoy the wine and a mince pie. Goodbye."

It is clear Louis van Gaal had one particular subject on his mind throughout the news conference - namely, the nature of the speculation surrounding his position and his treatment by the media...

"I want to say, only, that I have tried to lift the confidence of my players and have done everything this week - meetings, a Christmas lunch, a speech - and I feel the warmth and support of everybody in Carrington. I didn't feel that in the media. I can imagine that you can write about that subject. We are not in a good position but four weeks ago we were first and in four weeks we can be again."

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal lasted less than five minutes before walking out of the news conference. He answered three questions, although his answers were all on a similar theme. Here is part one...

"Has anybody in this room not a feeling to apologise to me? Nobody has that feeling? That, I was wondering. I think I was already sacked, I have read. My colleague [replacement] was here already. 

"What do you think happens with my wife, or kids or grandchildren. Or the fans of Manchester United? Or my friends? They have called me. A lot of times. And also Arsene Wenger is saying something about that. Do you think I want to talk with the media now? Only because of the Premier League rule, I have to talk with you. I see that when I say something you use my words in your context."

David Ornstein
BBC Sport

"Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has walked out of his news conference after just eight minutes. I asked the first question and there were then a couple more from the broadcast media before he got up and left."

You might want to stay tuned for a pretty dramatic Manchester United news conference. It would appear Louis van Gaal has brought it to an abrupt end...

Keep your festive sporting ditties coming please...

Jordan Rosamond: Out with Rodgers, in with Klopp, jubilation for the kop. Mourinho faulters, gets the chop, as Chelsea head towards the drop 

Ever considered a career in poetry Jordan?

The world number five isn't going to make many new friends today...

Louis van Gaal is speaking to MUTV, external ahead of his press conference (due to start around 16:00 GMT). He has been asked about the injury situation at the club and given this response...

"It's more or less the same, so there is no difference. Only that, for example, Phil Jones has played 90 minutes and had no reaction so that’s a good signal.

"I think Matteo Darmian shall come [back] next week and then maybe already against Chelsea. We have to see that but, of course, we have injuries that take a long time for example Shaw, Valencia and Rojo and you cannot change that."  

Image source, Reuters

Wales international Matthew Morgan is to leave Bristol at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old fly-half, who has been linked with Cardiff Blues, believes a move gives him the best chance of adding to his five caps.

"We can't fault a young man in wanting to play international rugby," said Bristol director of rugby Andy Robinson.

There has been a lot of noise about former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho stepping in to the (apparently) soon to be vacant manager post at Manchester United. But, if the Daily Mail are to be believed,, external 'The Special One' could be set for another big club.

The paper reports that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has tentatively sounded out directors and influential club members over the possibility of getting in ahead of United and bringing Jose Mourinho back to the Bernabeu, where he managed from 2010-2013.

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester City are the talk of the Premier League at the moment so it seems only right to lead of our list today's sporting birthdays with one of their players. So, a very happy birthday to Jeff Schlupp, who was born on this day in 1992.

Other sporting folk celebrating their birthday today include Spain's World Cup and European Championship-winning manager Vicente del Bosque, who was born in 1950, former Scotland forward Kenny Miller (1979), ex-France back, now president of the French tennis federation, Jean Gachassin (1941) and former WBA and IBF featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa (1981).

Image source, Getty Images