Van Gaal vs Jose Mourinho – Reunion or Rivalry ?

This 2014-15 season of Premier League has bought lots of surprises along the world cup campaign. With the various transfers all over the league from Southampton boys to Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona , Return of Didier ‘King’ Drogba to Chelsea, the expensive signing of Diego Costa and many more but it bought one man to Premier League as the Manager of Manchester United, Master Tactician Luis van Gaal with titles under his name from his 23 year tenure thus rekindling van Gaal- Mourinho friendship.

He will face Jose Mourinho, once the master and apprentice at Barcelona, the now Manchester United and Chelsea managers Van Gaal- Mourinho’ friendship is an intriguing twist to the battle for the Premier League. However after the first press conference by LVG, Mourinho was quite impressed by his once teacher saying his attitude was refreshing but not arrogant. As such LVG is not in the right mind frame to engage with Mourinho in Mind Games before the season kicks off on August 16.

Last Season under David Moyes, United finished 7th place with UEFA competition this season, LVG was mainly bought to heal the wounds inflicted last season and make Manchester United a superior force again in domestic league and in Europe.

Clash of the Titans

Good history between the two Master Minds speaks by itself . Mourinho is 11 years younger to LVG but is the proclaimed “Special One”. He burst onto the scene in 2003 when he guided Porto to UEFA Cup glory and then added the Champions League title the following year, knocking out Manchester United on the way before cruising to a 3-0 victory over Monaco in the final and the rest is history made at Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid which led to a new rivalry with Pep Guardiola. His second spell at Chelsea awaits his reunion with Louis Van Gaal again.

The Dutchman has his history in Ajax in 1991 and went to win 11 trophies during his 6 year spell. This was followed by various gyrations and changes in his managerial career in Barcelona, AZ and Bayern Munich ultimately earning him reputation and trophies for his strict discipline and tactics on field. He finished 3rd place with Netherlands recently at FIFA World Cup 2014 which saw his side demolish Spain, the world champs 5-1 followed by excellent performances till semifinals where they lost to Argentina.

It means that Van Gaal’s appointment will add more flair to the premier league. The Dutchman has an electric attitude , means we will see lots of mind games with rival managers in the upcoming league season.

Nothing can be said for certain , But as the Clash of the Titans begins after the World Cup, the eyes will be set on the Portuguese and the Dutchman adding flair after they met last in UEFA champions league as mangers of Bayern Munich and Inter Milan where Mourinho won it by a scoreline of 2-0. It all comes down to who draws first blood in this clash of the heavy weights.