Manchester, May 1 (IANS): Manchester United head coach Louis van Gaal has asserted that he will hold on to his post at the English Premier League (EPL) club, no matter what happens at the end of the football season.

United remain in contention for a top-four finish and are in the FA Cup final but speculation over the Dutchman’s future at the club persists.

"I knew it would be like this. That’s why they hired me and we spoke about it. We always knew that the process would take three years. I wanted to sign only for two years,” Van Gaal was quoted as saying by goal.com on Saturday.

"The club wanted me to sign for three years, not me. I signed for three years -- so next year you will see me again. Every week for (the last) six months I have been sacked -- and yet I am still here. But this has happened to me at every club I have been at.”

Former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has been heavily linked with replacing van Gaal but the 64-year-old is relaxed about his future and said he always felt it would take time to bring success to the club.

"I am doing the same job at United that I was hired to do at every club. People should assess the squad that I took over and make a comparison to the players we have now in terms of age,” the manager said.

"There is a big difference between what the people in the street think and the media. A big difference. I can only tell you my experiences and I don’t have to defend myself. I am a realistic man and so I only speak about facts,” the 64-year-old added.