Latest news with #LouisVanGaal
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Louis van Gaal makes brutal claim that Man United are 'a commercial club and NOT a football club' - as former boss insists Red Devils need to 'pay attention' to Premier League rivals
Former Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has launched into a scathing attack on the recruitment practices at the club. Van Gaal arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2014, and was tasked with restoring the club after David Moyes lasted just ten months in the unenviable position of being Sir Alex Ferguson 's successor. The Dutchman went on to spend two years at United before being sacked just days after his side defeated Crystal Palace to win the FA Cup. As United prepare for yet another summer of change following a their worst-ever Premier League campaign, Van Gaal insisted a lack of cohesion in the club's recruitment is to blame for their ongoing struggles on the pitch. 'They are a commercial club, not a football club.' Van Gaal told Sky Sports. 'I have said that before and that's always difficult. When the manager is not deciding which players have to come in, it is very difficult.' Ruben Amorim is gearing up for a busy summer in the transfer window after a dismal maiden campaign at Old Trafford Asked whether he believes that managers should be more in control of their transfer business, Van Gaal insisted it is the only way for them to be judged on their own merits. 'I think that it is is the way that it should be,' he said. 'Because then you can fire a manager because he doesn't give any results. But when other people buy the players, then you have a problem. 'You need to have the knowledge of the manager, the orientation of the manager, because he has to train them.' The former Netherlands boss added that United would be wise to emulate the approach of their fiercest rivals in the transfer market going forward. He added: 'Arne Slot is the man who says to his technical manager that he has to buy this player, pay attention to it.' Van Gaal has previously expressed his frustration with United's transfer activity during his own time in the Old Trafford dugout. Despite splashing out upwards of £150million on Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, Radamel Falcao, Daley Blind, and Angel Di Maria in his first summer at the club the 73-year-old later bemoaned the failure to secure his primary targets. 'Manchester United did not have the qualities to become champions and had an outdated selection with 10 players over 30, five over 35.' He told Voetbal International in 2020. 'So I told them I was going to rejuvenate and which players should come. I didn't get one of those. 'Then you end up in a different segment and as a coach you have to push your boundaries. You don't expect that at the richest club in the world. 'A turnover of £600m and can't buy the players you need. You should buy number one and not number seven. 'Of course, the selling club also thinks: "If you are so rich, you also have to pay the highest amount imaginable for a player." That was what happened with transfers. 'Then you have to do with the numbers seven or eight on your wish list. For which you actually pay way too much money, on which the coach is judged and convicted.'
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Defeat can be a blessing in disguise for Manchester United
Antonio Conte worked wonders to lead Chelsea to the Premier League title in 2016/17 but the Italian would probably be the first to admit that the process was aided by the club's absence from European competition that season. It allowed them to narrow their focus and throw everything at the League. No one is suggesting for a moment that United are about to win the title any time soon but if Nottingham Forest can go from 17th to Champions League contention in the space of a season, then so can United. Mikel Arteta's rebuild at Arsenal gained momentum during the 2021-22 campaign – his second full season – when he had no European football to worry about. Indeed, United have their own recent experience. Louis van Gaal's first season at Old Trafford played out minus European football. United finished fourth that season with 70 points – nothing to get too excited about but if Amorim's side were to finish in a similar position next term then that would represent significant progress from this year. Financial advantages to no Champions League Ah, but what about the £100 million black hole in the finances? There is no doubt Champions League revenues are preferable, the £10 million penalty clause now payable to Adidas for failing to qualify for Europe's premier club competition is a blow and the situation could affect the club's ability to attract certain players. But it is not all doom and gloom. No European football enables Amorim to run with a leaner squad. Certain players can be moved on and would not necessarily need replacing now. Players will not enjoy the 25 per cent uplift in their salaries that they would have done if the club had returned to the Champions League. And those players United are looking to offload will not be on Champions League salaries, so in theory will be cheaper and more attractive to potential buyers. Equally, maybe fewer games will equate to fewer injuries, a perennial issue for players who have struggled to deal with the physical and mental demands of three games in eight days and the Thursday-Sunday shift pattern. Of course, no European football ramps up the pressure on Amorim and his players next season. The manager has admitted as much, claiming his side will need to be 'perfect' or the knives will be out.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Man Utd won't hold end of season award dinner
Manchester United have decided not to hold an end of year players' awards night for the second season cancelled their plans 12 months ago as the senior men's team finishing eighth in the Premier League, even though they won the FA year, the club have opted not to arrange awards night usually involved prizes for players from across the men's, women's and youth teams. Although the men's side are heading for their worst league finish since the 1973-74 relegation campaign, they could still qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League. As was the case 12 months ago, United's women's team could win the FA Cup. They play Chelsea in the final at Wembley on Sunday. United have already qualified for next season's Women's Champions League thanks to their third-place league have ruled out a parade if the men's side beat Tottenham in Bilbao on 21 May and instead will host a barbecue at their Carrington training ground the day after the of the previous awards nights, which have been covered by MUTV, have been memorable, particularly in 2015 when then boss Louis van Gaal delivered an amusing eight-minute speech when he demanded those present: "I want to say something - pay attention to the manager."Bruno Fernandes and Ella Toone won their respective player of the year awards last called on fans to vote for the men's and women's player of the season, and both teams' goals of the season, in the match programme for Sunday's home defeat by West awards will be presented on the pitch at Old Trafford before the men's final home game of the season against Aston Villa on 25 May.
Telegraph
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Ruben Amorim in danger of talking himself out of Manchester United job
We cannot, almost in the same breath, criticise Mikel Arteta for his deluded claim Arsenal were the best team in the Champions League and castigate Ruben Amorim for the more accurate assessment this Manchester United side are the club's worst in Premier League history. What is so remarkable about Amorim's statement, though, is that it has become a self-fulfilling prophecy that has hurt United. And, potentially, him. After the appalling defeat on Sunday at home to West Ham United, Amorim conceded he should step aside if the poor league form is carried into next season, which means he is already in dangerous territory given how prescient a pundit he appears to be. It is highly unusual for a manager not only to be so frank about his beliefs but, even more so, to suggest he is prepared to quit. With football, as with politics, no one resigns these days. Of course if United continue to play as badly, the decision will be taken out of Amorim's hands. No matter what are the club's deep-rooted, systemic problems or the young Portuguese's potential as a coach. They cannot carry on like this. This United team are poor and in another season they might have been relegated. There needs to be a change of culture, even if they win the Europa League. In a sense there is nothing new in this. Three years ago interim manager Ralf Rangnick said United needed 'open-heart surgery'. He was ushered out. Louis van Gaal threw himself to the floor in frustration; Jose Mourinho talked about 'history' and 'respect' and David Moyes and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer aged within a few months. It has all unfolded through the prism of the Glazers' toxic ownership – Monday is the 20th anniversary of the takeover – and Sir Jim Ratcliffe's cost-cutting and own bleak prophecies. Amorim is not alone in catastrophising and so he talks about the job being akin to clearing out the Augean Stables. Given that we often witness so many managers using diversion tactics, sugar-coating it, hammering match officials, claiming night is day and day is night and the world is against them, Amorim's approach has been refreshing. To a degree. But there is another truth: he has talked a far better game than United have played. He is far more entertaining than they are. Despite reaching the Europa League final, he has actually made them worse. At least in the short term. When Amorim arrived last November, a win in his first game away to Ipswich Town would have put United five points off second place. With United in 16th and on only 39 points, that already feels like a lifetime ago. The question for United – and Amorim – is whether his honesty has become counter-productive. Whether that candour has further damaged the fragile confidence of the players, especially as he tries to implement a system to which most are unsuited and, evidently, are struggling with. Amorim does not hide but it looks like some of the United players are doing just that on the pitch. He has already also stated he will only play one way and will not compromise on his 3-4-3 formation. But why? Having principles and a 'philosophy' is all well and good, but surely any coach worth his salt will adapt and flex in the real world until he can get what he wants. Even Pep Guardiola is not that dogmatic and it does not mean the players will lack belief. It also does not help Amorim that Oliver Glasner, with far fewer resources at Crystal Palace, whom he has led to the FA Cup final and who play far more entertaining football, has implemented the same system more effectively. Amorim needs his own squad. There was no point hiring him, knowing how rigid his approach is, if United are not going to provide that. How easily they can do it is hugely open to question given the financial constraints and the need to move on so many underperforming players. And there is the rub for United. Here is a squad being constantly told how bad they are, with a manager who clearly does not rate or want many of them. Amorim does not call out individuals, he is quick to take his share of the blame, he is always courteous and does not have the viciousness of his compatriot Jose Mourinho. But that criticism is strong and relentless. And, yes, maybe self-fulfilling. Perhaps Amorim is working on that old saying: it is always darkest before the dawn. Maybe he believes United almost need to hit rock bottom before they can bounce back. That may well be the case. He has said it how it is and not held back and we should applaud that. But for United, rather like their spiralling, dreadful form, it has been relentless. What Amorim must ask himself is whether he has – inadvertently – contributed to that. Maybe that is why he put it out there that he might walk. Amorim has made it plain just how bad he feels United are. But words can be damaging. It is not just sticks and stones that cause breakages.
