Louis van Gaal has hit back at Paul Scholes by telling him to keep his criticisms of Manchester United to himself or to tell them privately to the club's powerbrokers.
Manager Van Gaal accused Scholes of panning his former club for his own profit after the retired midfielder, who played 718 times for United, said the Dutchman's teams lacked "creativity and risk" and said his tactics made life harder for out-of-form captain Wayne Rooney.
But Van Gaal said he was not hurt by Scholes' comments, saying in a news conference: "I always use Dutch expressions but you have a fantastic expression [in English] for that. Sticks and stones can break my bones but names never hurt me. Fantastic expression."
Van Gaal questioned Scholes' motives, adding: "He doesn't have the responsibility so he can say everything and why he is saying something? For the benefit of the club or for the benefit of himself?"
Scholes is a former teammate and close friend of Van Gaal's assistant manager Ryan Giggs.
And the 64-year-old said: "I don't agree with his opinion but I don't want to defend myself. I think when you are a legend, you have to speak with the manager or his friend, Ryan Giggs. Or he has to speak with [executive vice-chairman] Ed Woodward. [Instead], he shall be paid by the BBC or Sky and then you have to say something."
Van Gaal believes his fate will be determined by results, not opinions, saying: "When Mr Scholes thinks I go, I go but he is not the responsible man. That is the Glazers or Ed Woodward."