Louis van Gaal bares his teeth as media pursue Man Utd heir
Van Gaal channels Alex Ferguson as British reporters press him on Man Utd top job
ALEX FERGUSON built his career on giving short shrift to people who angered him and it seems the man set to step into his shoes as manager of Manchester United is cut from the same curmudgeonly cloth.
Louis van Gaal, widely expected to be unveiled as United’s new manager next week, was intercepted by a reporter on Wednesday at a pre-World Cup training camp for the Netherlands national team. The 62-year-old Dutchman’s immediate challenge is to guide Holland to success in Brazil next month but a Sky Sports’ correspondent wanted to know his views on Manchester United.
Asked what he knew about the Red Devils, Van Gaal snapped: "A stupid question I think. It's the biggest club in the world. What do you know about Manchester United?"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The reporter sidestepped the question, preferring to ask another of his own, this time enquiring if Van Gaal would relish the opportunity to succeed where David Moyes so spectacularly failed during his short-lived tenure in charge of United. "I would love the job," declared Van Gaal. "I hope that I shall be the one. It’s the biggest club in the world and it’s a fantastic challenge."
Van Gaal gave nothing away on the subject of an official announcement, telling Sky: "You have to wait and see when the club decide. It is always the same, it's always a process and you have to wait for the process. The press are always too fast."
The appearance of the British press at the Dutch training camp was clearly a distraction for Van Gaal and the squad as they attempt to go a step better than four years ago when they lost in the World Cup final to Spain. "I have to focus on my job," said Van Gaal. "I'm coach of the Dutch national team. I have waited a long time to be in a World Cup... I have invested four years to be in a World Championship."
Meanwhile The Times reports that while Ryan Giggs is likely to be offered a senior position at Old Trafford under van Gaal, the future of Phil Neville – first-team coach during Moyes’ reign – is uncertain.
"I don’t know what’s around the corner for me in terms of my own personal job," admitted Neville. "I want to be part of Man United’s future. I want to be here for the rest of my life."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Quiz of The Week: 16 - 22 November
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff Published
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures Firing shells, burning ballots, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US Published
-
Damian Barr shares his favourite books
The Week Recommends The writer and broadcaster picks works by Alice Walker, Elif Shafak and others
By The Week UK Published
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Manchester United and Mason Greenwood: duty of care or double standards?
Talking Point The 21-year-old footballer’s possible return has provoked an outpouring of dismay from supporters
By Jamie Timson Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man Utd win the Carabao Cup: how Erik ten Hag has ‘transformed’ the Red Devils
feature United lifted their first silverware since 2017 after beating Newcastle at Wembley
By Mike Starling Published
-
Jim Ratcliffe: petrochemical billionaire turned Man Utd bidder
Why Everyone’s Talking About The Ineos owner is the first to publicly bid for the 13-time Premier League winners
By Richard Windsor Published
-
Reactions to Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘explosive’ interview with Piers Morgan
feature Portugal captain feels ‘betrayed’ by Man Utd and believes he’s being forced out of the club
By Mike Starling Published
-
What next for Cristiano Ronaldo? How the relationship with Man Utd turned sour
Under the Radar Portugal star has ‘almost certainly’ played his last game for United as he is dropped for Chelsea clash
By Mike Starling Published
-
Manchester United: does Erik ten Hag have the ‘golden touch’?
feature Prevailing mood at Old Trafford was reminiscent of ‘how it felt during the golden years of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign’
By The Week Staff Last updated