Criticism is part and parcel of any sportsperson’s career, that is amplified for most managers in football clubs and it should come as no surprise that some of the top managers in the world get criticized, but getting constant criticism from ex-players is a bit of a worry and that is something that Louis van Gaal has had to deal with.
Paul Scholes, one of the legends of Manchester United’s dominant period in the Premier League had recently come out stating that Van Gaal’s team is a bit boring and does not follow the ethos of former’s teams. Scholes is right in his though that this does not resemble or play like the Manchester United teams he has been a part of but Louis van Gaal doesn’t have to play in the old Manchester United way, he has made them tough to beat but they just don’t seem to be clicking.
United didn’t score a goal in 325 minutes (the drought, which was ended by Wayne Rooney), something which is unheard of for Manchester United. Van Gaal also does not seem to know who his best XI is and with him spending a lot of cash on bringing so many players and not getting the right results, this could be the end of the line for Van Gaal.
A stabilizing effect for the Red Devils
We do not suggest that Van Gaal should be sacked by the management at Manchester United. We must state that when Van Gaal was brought into the club, Manchester United had their worst Premier League season in which they missed out on qualifying for any European tournament, again something we would not imagine for Manchester United.
This Manchester United of David Moyes needed rebuilding and that is exactly why Louis van Gaal was brought into the club. The club needed a big signing, not just to play on the pitch, but to represent the club, there might be an argument that David Moyes didn’t get the time he deserved at the helm of the club but Louis van Gaal was a name that not many clubs would forego.
Angel Di Maria
The Dutch ace also had a great year with him doing extremely well with the national team at the World Cup in 2014. Van Gaal came with an aura around him and that did help him get a few big names at the club, granted the signing of Angel Di Maria turned out to be a failure, but United needed someone big at that time and Di Maria and Van Gaal were the pair that was available at that time.
Van Gaal didn’t have the greatest season in his first year, in fact, his record was alarmingly similar to David Moyes’ but the Dutch manager got Manchester United back into the big time with an entry into the UEFA Champions League. He also tightened up the defence, despite them not looking the most comfortable with the centre-backs that they had.
Louis van Gaal also had to overhaul the Manchester United squad, Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, and Van Persie. Fletcher, O’Shea, just some of the stalwarts who were replaced at the club and Van Gaal did bring in players such as Memphis, Martial, Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin, Rojo, and Blind. He was also able to keep hold of David de Gea when Real Madrid came calling. Whether it was the call of Van Gaal or the board, Manchester United were able to keep hold of their best player over the past two seasons, replacing him would have been tough.
For all the good that Van Gaal has done, his inability to get the best out of the attacking lineup has seen the knives being sharpened for him. Wayne Rooney does not look like a number nine, yet he is constantly played in that role and has not done anything to prove that he actually is a world class player, this is probably a one off season, but a manager such as Van Gaal should make tough decisions, which he has not done in the Rooney situation.
Van Gaal might be one of the most respected managers in the world, but even he knew that his time at United would be short. He was brought in to do a stabilizing job, which he has done unless he does win the Premier League with Manchester United this season, Louis van Gaal should take the break from football which he was all set to do after the 2014 World Cup. A job well done at United and no one would grudge him if he does leave.