Louis van Gaal, we can safely say, isn’t quite over his departure from Manchester United just yet.
Nearly two years on from leaving Old Trafford, the Dutchman has again made his feelings on the matter clear.
United had finished the 2015/16 Premier League season in fifth place, meaning they would once again drop out of the Champions League after Van Gaal had returned them to the competition during his first season at the club.
Despite this, Van Gaal claims he was given assurances about his future, the situation only changing after he guided United to their first FA Cup success in 12 years – beating Crystal Palace 2-1 in the final at Wembley. Within 48 hours, he was out of a job, swiftly replaced by Jose Mourinho.
Insisting he does not blame Mourinho, Van Gaal instead takes aim at Ed Woodward – the club’s executive vice-chairman – for his handling of the situation.
“What I find wrong is when a CEO says ‘we’re totally happy with you, do not believe the press,'” he is quoted as saying in German publication, Bild. “Then you win the FA Cup and are still fired.”
Despite having no issue with Mourinho, Van Gaal goes on to praise Pep Guardiola for the work he has done at Manchester City, likening their football to the style of play he had hoped to implement at United.
“Pep Guardiola is for me currently the best coach of the Premier League,” he says. “Pep has made City a machine. He shows the style of football that I would have liked to play at Manchester United.
“But he has better players for it. For me, the process would have taken longer. Unfortunately, I did not get the time. “
