‘Death or the gladioli’ for United, warns Van Gaal

Louis van Gaal dug out a favourite old phrase of his to remind his Manchester United players they will be fighting for their lives when they face Yeovil in the FA Cup tomorrow.

“It is death or the gladioli,” the United manager said when asked to sum up the third round match against League One’s bottom side at Huish Park.

Dutch road cyclist Gerrie Knetemann is thought to have coined the phrase in the 1970s and 1980s as the winner of Tour de France stages received a bouquet of gladiolus flowers.