With the pressure increasing for Louis van Gaal, David Gill’s interview on BBC Radio made for some interesting listening.
Gill, Manchester United’s former Chief Executive, was speaking about the future of the club and appeared to suggest that the club’s current board are far from happy with Louis van Gaal, despite appearing to support the Dutchman following a string of poor results in December.
“We hoped results would be better,” he explained. “Undoubtedly, it’s been a season of underachievement given the investment.”
Gill also said that United need to go back to playing attacking football, suggesting their current style of play was not good enough.
“Manchester United going back to the 1950s played a certain way. We want attacking football and that will be the aim moving forward,” he said.
He also hinted that the competitive nature of the Premier League might have surprised van Gaal, despite his experiences managing in Holland, Germany and Spain.
“He’s managed in Germany, Holland and Spain. He’s now come into English football and perhaps the sheer competitiveness is here.”
In terms of van Gaal’s future, Gill was keen to stress that any decision was to be made by Ed Woodward, the man that replaced him as Chief Executive, and the club’s owners.
“The wider point is for Ed Woodward and the Glazers to discuss… I’m sorry to disappoint, but it’s not for me to say. I’m not a spokesperson for Manchester United and I’m not privy to these discussions.
“There are two boards. The stock exchange board and another. Ed Woodward runs the NYSE board and makes decisions.”
With Ryan Giggs tipped by many to eventually take over from Louis van Gaal, Gill also suggested that the United assistant might need to look elsewhere for managerial experience before he is appointed as manager at Old Trafford.
“I don’t disagree that Giggs has to prove himself. He can’t be a number two forever. Different traits are required for manager.”
