Louis van Gaal has insisted his reputation as an arrogant dictator is a myth.
Reflecting on how the role of manager has changed over his 24-year career, the Manchester United boss admitted to being less hands-on since arriving at Old Trafford — even though he’s very well paid.
‘I’m from a time where you did everything,’ said the Dutchman whose first managerial job was at Ajax. ‘Now I’m the manager and I have a sports science department, a scouting department, a medical department, assistant managers, assistant coaches.
‘I don’t do anything — nothing! I delegate. I delegate, and I earn a lot of money!
‘Feedback is very important. But I have to say that because when I don’t (accept it), I’m arrogant!’
Addressing the League Managers’ Association, Van Gaal told an audience of fellow bosses that his career was built on attacking football, despite the recent criticisms aimed at him by former Old Trafford great Paul Scholes.
Scholes said the current United team lacked ‘creativity and risk’ and wasn’t enjoyable to play in.
Hitting back, Van Gaal — who won major trophies with Barcelona and Bayern Munich — reminded his peers of the first great team he created at Ajax, who beat AC Milan to win the 1995 Champions League.
‘We won everything with very attacking football. I don’t say it too much because otherwise Mr Scholes will be very angry!’ he laughed.
‘We didn’t have any money, so I had to look to youth. We scouted Jari Litmanen, a Finnish player, who we bought for £10 000. We also bought Finidi George. He was a Nigerian international. He was £3 000. I paid it by myself! And then, we bought Marc Overmars.
‘Sometimes I have a horrible time because I am too arrogant, I say things how they are. It’s the most difficult way but you shall survive.
‘I am also an innovator. I was the first coach who was with a notebook. Now everybody is with a notebook. I was the first coach who used video.’
The United manager’s ‘philosophy’ has become a regular buzzword at Old Trafford. Seeking to explain it in a bit more depth, he said: ‘I’m into training the brain because football is not a sport of legs, it is a sport of brain, and tactics.
‘All the players have to sustain that process and that’s not easy. Praise is better than to be negative, it is true. But, sometimes, I’m sorry, you have to be negative also.’
Meanwhile, David Beckham has told struggling Memphis Depay that he must not treat United’s No 7 shirt as a curse.
If Anthony Martial’s injury rules him out, Depay is set to end his Premier League exile against Watford on Saturday after being dropped following the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal on October 4.
Martial hurt his foot playing for France at Wembley on Tuesday night. United are assessing the problem — and his wife Samantha deleted an Instagram post that claimed he was not injured.
A recall at Vicarage Road would be a big chance for 21-year-old Depay to overcome recent criticisms from Van Gaal and show he has the potential to fill the No 7 jersey once worn by Beckham, George Best, Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Beckham, who wore the shirt with distinction between 1997 and 2003, said: ‘The No 7 is special for Manchester United. I don’t see it as an intimidation, I see it as an honour.
‘When you get given the No 7 shirt, it doesn’t matter who has worn it in the past or what that player has achieved. It’s special and personally I don’t think it comes with any pressure. It was always an inspiration for me. What has happened to the No 7 in the last couple of years doesn’t interest me.’
Depay was hailed by Van Gaal as the best winger of his age group when he signed for United in a £25m deal from PSV last summer. But he has failed to cope and has been criticised by Van Gaal for not being a team player.
His only Premier League goal came in a 3-0 win against Sunderland and he hit rock bottom when substituted at half-time in the 3-0 loss at Arsenal. – Daily Mail