Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal labelled the talk of Jose Mourinho replacing him "an absolute scandal."
The pressure has eased marginally on the Dutchman this week after securing safe progress to the FA Cup quarterfinals and setting up a Europa League last-16 tie with Liverpool.
However, Van Gaal remains the bookmakers' favourite to be the next top-flight manager to leave their post and Mourinho is as short as 1/6 to succeed him in the Old Trafford hot-seat.
The pair worked together when Van Gaal managed Barcelona, but he feels no need to speak to his former assistant about the speculation.
"[Mourinho] has said things a number of times with a lot of words," Van Gaal told TV channel RTL7, according to the multiple outlets.
"But he does not have to tell me anything. I find the whole thing ridiculous.
"No, I don't want United to do something either. I don't even want them to react to things which I read in the media or which are being created.
"We, the club and I, are not going to help the media right now by denying things.
"I think what is happening is an absolute scandal."