Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has thanked executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and the club's board for their "fantastic" support -- but claimed it has put him under even more pressure.
Woodward has proved an ally of the Dutchman during a difficult spell in which United have won only three of their last 14 games, been knocked out of the Champions League and now lie five points off the top four in the Premier League.
But Van Gaal, while vowing to fight on as United manager, made the assertion that he might have more motivation if he had received less backing.
"It is fantastic, of course, but also that gives you a lot of pressure, because when the board has such confidence in you then the pressure is much higher than when they say it is your last game or something like that," he told a news conference.
"Because then the confidence is not so high and you can fight against it and when you fight you have a bigger motivation than when they support you."
Van Gaal, who denied he had ever offered to resign, claimed he will carry on battling to stay in his position, adding: "I am always fighting."
The former Ajax, Bayern Munich and Barcelona boss, who is yet to win a trophy in his time at United, said the FA Cup is a priority and not merely because of the club's struggles in other competitions.
United travel to Derby, who are fifth in the Championship, for Friday's fourth-round tie.
"I don't think it has anything to do with the Premier League," he said. "It is the FA Cup. We want to win the FA Cup like every club in England. It is very popular. Everybody had the ambition so it is important and it is another title so we have to give everything for that."
Van Gaal has revealed Michael Carrick could make his comeback against Derby, but Matteo Darmian will miss the tie at the iPro Stadium.