Van Gaal Rips into Manchester United: 'Not a Football Club Anymore'
Manager Louis van Gaal has brought significant damage to his previous team, Manchester United.
Football legend Louis van Gaal has laid into his old team Manchester United, stating the club is no longer what it once was—nothing more than a commercial enterprise. Van Gaal, who led the Red Devils to the FA Cup in 2016, pulled no punches when speaking to Sky Sports.
"It's a commercial club, not a football club," Van Gaal said, echoing sentiments he's shared before. He criticized the club's transfer policy, expressing frustration that coach-driven decisions were not taken into account. "When the coach doesn't decide which players come in, it's very difficult," he stated.
Last season was a disastrous one for Man United, with 18 defeats and a 15th-place finish, meaning no European competition for the first time since the 2014/15 season. If United want to return to success, the Dutchman believes they should look to their arch-nemesis, FC Liverpool, for inspiration.
Liverpool Leading the Way
New Liverpool coach Arne Slot, the successor to Jürgen Klopp, has much more influence on transfer decisions than his Man United counterpart. Slot's strategic approach paid off with a league title in his first season with the Reds, and Van Gaal believes United should take note.
"At Liverpool, he's the one who tells his sporting director: 'You have to buy this player'. That's what they should pay attention to," Van Gaal said, praising the German coach.
Football Premier League Manchester United FC Liverpool Louis van Gaal
- Thriving transfer strategies: While United focuses on acquiring top Premier League talent and managing existing squad members 3, Liverpool's approach emphasizes tactical fit, strategic signings, and data-driven decisions 4.
Sources: ntv.de, tno/dpa
Further Reading
- Manchester United's Transfer Strategy Revival
- Liverpool's Data-Driven Player Recruitment Strategy
- The Commission has not yet received any reply from Louis van Gaal regarding his suggestions for a more coach-driven transfer policy at Manchester United, especially in light of Liverpool's success with this approach.
- After Manchester United's dismal performance last season, Louis van Gaal pointed to Liverpool's thriving transfer strategies, emphasizing tactical fit, strategic signings, and data-driven decisions, as a model for United to emulate.
