His two seasons at Manchester United may be remembered as stodgy, with flashes of clarity, but we’ll fondly remember his brutal honesty.
Louis van Gaal surely did not envisage having to go through a Danish side established only 17 years ago to progress another step clearer in Europe’s second-tier club competition. Last summer, the Dutchman had guided United back to the Champions League and he was handed more money to spend.
Once he made the signings United fans craved – fresh blood in defence, holding midfielder, a World Cup winner – and hung onto David De Gea, the future looked rosy. Sure, he got rid of just about every striker he could, but there was always… Marouane Fellaini.
In fairness to van Gaal, few would have predicted the middling seasons of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay. A heap of defensive injuries have not helped either.
And so it is, heading into this evening’s Europa League encounter with FC Midtjylland, United find themselves out of the Champions League and League Cup, fifth in the league and still going in the FA Cup.
Van Gaal was very honest in his Wednesday press briefing when he declared the FA Cup, and not the Europa, was his personal priority. Given that the Europa League is a viable route into next season’s Champions League, this concession may pique United fans. Van Gaal said:
“I came here to embrace the atmosphere of English football but also to make Manchester a champion or give a title, like winning the FA Cup.
“We have [had] a lot of time not winning the FA Cup.
“But, for Manchester United as a club, it is much more important to win the UEFA Cup because of the fact that we can qualify ourselves for the Champions League.”
