We all do it. You leave an old job, get substituted or get kicked out of the kitchen and you’re secretly hoping that your successor makes a balls up.
Out of no malice or real evil, just plain old selfishness. You don’t want someone to do something better than you, do you?
Rene Meulensteen is no different apparently.
The former Manchester United first team coach has no words of encouragement for his countryman as he watches on from afar with van Gaal hitting it off with the same group of players he once loved. Probably feels a bit like an old friend snogging an ex for Rene.
He’s clearly finding it tough though, as he spoke with the The Telegraph through a not-so-bitten lip.
“He will blow up at some point. That’s part of his make-up. Remember these words. If I’m speaking to you, I’m exchanging information over what I feel passionate about but I don’t lecture you. I’m not preaching to you. If you go and sit with Van Gaal, you’ll come out thinking ‘I’m 12 years old’. He will speak to you as if you have no clue. He will look at you and be thinking ‘what are you asking me? I’m Louis van Gaal’. He’s not my cup of tea.
“I said to Ryan (Giggs): ‘I’m so glad you’re staying at the club in this role because you’re the one holding on to this life-line to the Ferguson era but I’m telling you it’s going to be the most difficult three years ahead of you.’”
This all just feels quite familiar…
