Van Gaal: Sir Alex Ferguson won't be a problem for me

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal does not believe the presence of Sir Alex Ferguson at the club will negatively influence his Old Trafford reign.

Questions were raised over the former United manager's continued involvement at the club during David Moyes's unsuccessful spell in charge.

But the current Netherlands coach is sure he will not face the same problems, claiming he is his own biggest critic.

“I don’t think he (Ferguson) is the biggest problem,” Van Gaal said. “I put more pressure on myself than others do.

“I’ll undoubtedly have a drink with Ferguson. We’ve done that before and we like each other.

“But nobody can put more pressure on myself than I do, so I do not expect any problem with Ferguson.”

The Dutchman also insisted he will be in charge of identifying transfer targets this summer, but will not play a role in negotiations to sign players.

Van Gaal added: “I say which players I want and which players can leave. But they (United) have to negotiate. I’ve never interfered with transfers.”

Van Gaal has been viewed by many as a short-term appointment by United, but the 62-year-old believes he can manage into his 70s, though he will leave all transfer negotiations to chief executive Ed Woodward.

“In three years I’ll be 65,” he added. “How old was Bobby Robson? In his 70s.

"[Giovanni] Trapattoni is still active, but I can’t see myself like that.”

Read More»

Van Gaal wishlist for his Manchester United this summer

Eleven players Louis van Gaal will splash £150 million on in the summer transfer window.

Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich)
Age: 24
Majestic central midfielder who had been flirting with Manchester United when David Moyes was at the club, after the Scot made clear his attraction to the 42-cap German. Was it all a ploy to gain a better contract at Bayern, though? Van Gaal is expected to want to find out for sure.

Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich)
Age: 25
Yet another German, the centre-back or left back, is highly rated by Van Gaal. The 6ft 3in defender, who has not featured this season due to a long-term injury, has played 30 times for his country and has been at Bayern since 2002, when he joined the academy.

Cesc Fàbregas (Barcelona)
Age: 27
David Moyes's overtures to the former Arsenal captain last summer were not music to the Barcelona midfielder's ears, in what was one of the longest-running sagas of the transfer window. The World Cup winner and European Championship victor, who has 87 international caps and 13 goals, is available for sale, according to sources in Spain, but will United want to put themselves through heartache of missing out again?

Sebastian Jung (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Age: 23
In 2012 the right back was the first Eintracht Frankfurt player to be called up to the German national squad, though he still only has one cap after that friendly against Van Gaal's Holland. Many regard him as the long-term replacement for Philipp Lahm for Germany, and Arsenal are thought to be monitoring him.

Mario Mandžukić (Bayern Munich)
Age: 27
A star performer for Croatia (he has scored 13 times in 48 appearances), the former VfL Wolfsburg striker has been marginalised by Pep Guardiola at Bayern this season. Not known for his pace, though, which is something United have been lacking this last season. Van Gaal could fight it out with Arsenal for the attacker's signature.

Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain)
Age: 27
In an interrupted first season in the French capital (thanks to injury and divorce) the Uruguay striker still managed to score 16 goals. Critics say that he has lost some potency after his €64.5-million move from Napoli, though he may well disprove that theory at the World Cup when his price could skyrocket alongside Luis Suarez.

Luke Shaw (Southampton)
Age: 18
The long-term heir apparent to Ashley Cole as left back in the England team, the teenager has been wanted by United for a while. With Patrice Evra likely to leave it's little surprise that the club allegedly lodged a £27-million bid with Southampton shortly after the Premier League season.

Bruno Martins Indi (Feyenoord)
Age: 22
The Portuguese-born Dutch international, who has so far won 13 caps for his adopted country, has been included in Van Gaal's provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup. A centre-back or left back, Martins Indi came through the youth system at Feyenoord and became a first-team regular under Ronald Koeman.

Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
Age: 24
Yet another German international in this list, Reus is an option if United fail to land Kroos, who remains their top target for a midfield boost. The Borussia Bortmund playmaker is more attack-minded than his countryman, and has a great goal-to-game ratio at club and international level (seven in 19 appearances).

Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
Age: 25
The centre-back came to prominence at the European Championships two years ago and Real Madrid were thought to be very close to signing the young German. The former Bayern Munich academy graduate stayed in Dortmund, though, and has continued to attract suitors. The 28-cap defender will come at a high price, though.

Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)
Age: 30
Still just 30, the right winger is a star for the Dutch national team and Van Gaal will use all his powers of persuasion to tempt Robben back to the Premier League, where he first featured for Chelsea a decade ago. Sharp, skilful and never afraid to shoot, the former Real Madrid attacker, who has won 73 caps for The Netherlands, would give United much-needed guile up top, and has a good understanding with Robin van Persie.

Read More»

Van Gaal : Mourinho is jealous of my CV

Louis van Gaal has revealed that Jose Mourinho texted him on his appointment as Manchester United manager to reveal his jealousy at the list of clubs the Dutchman has managed.

Van Gaal's imminent move to Old Trafford will provide the latest chapter in an illustrious career which also includes spells in charge of Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Mourinho was interviewed by the Catalan giants prior to the appointment of Pep Guardiola in the summer of 2008, and was widely reported to be keen on succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson as United boss before David Moyes was chosen.

And speaking to Dutch television channel RTL, Van Gaal claimed that Mourinho - his former assistant and long-time friend - had been in touch to reveal his awe at his mentor's CV.

"Jose Mourinho was one of the first people that texted me when I got the job. He said that he was jealous of my resume of clubs," Van Gaal said with a smirk.

The 62-year-old also insisted he does not foresee any problems with Ferguson, who remains on the board of directors at United and previously endorsed Ryan Giggs for the manager's job.

"I will probably have a drink with Sir Alex Ferguson, but we've done that a couple of times before," he added. "We get along quite fine.
"I don't think his pressure will be a big problem. I put a lot of pressure on myself. We need to get United back to the summit, as soon as possible.

"Maybe people will think that this will happen in the first seeason, but we'll have to see. In the end, there's only one team that becomes champions."

Read More»

Van Gaal: Van Persie is my captain

Manchester United manager-to-be Louis van Gaal has given a clear indication that Robin van Persie will be handed the captain's armband when he takes over at Old Trafford.

The striker has been Netherlands skipper for the past year and a half and demonstrated his authority with a brilliant volley in his country's 1-1 draw with Ecuador earlier this week.

And Van Gaal later claimed that he and his star man are on the same wavelength, both on and off the pitch.

"He is my captain," he said. "He is my top scorer in the one-and-a-half years that he has played under me. He became all-time top scorer of the Dutch team, he plays superb football and even coming back from a bad injury, he scores a fantastic, unbelievable goal.

"I was happy with his performance, but he is also a fantastic captain. I think you always make a player captain when you have the same morals and philosophy.

"Not only about football and tactics and what is happening on the pitch but about life. I think that’s very important and I believe that Van Persie and Van Gaal share the same philosophy."

Van Persie refused to be drawn on the identity of David Moyes' successor at Old Trafford but did suggest that the future at the club is bright, despite this season's seventh-placed finish.

"I followed everything from a distance, as the club had allowed me to do my rehab in Holland,” he said. “It was good to have some distance because it has been a tough year.

"For the first time in my career, I won’t be playing in Europe.

"It was a huge difference between this season and the last one, but it’s our job to switch a button now. Everything is going to be all right with the club."

Van Gaal could be announced as United boss over the coming days.

Read More»

Verheijen: Van Gaal perfect for Manchester United

Louis van Gaal would be the perfect fit for manager-less Manchester United, according to outspoken Dutchman Raymond Verheijen.

The fallen Premier League champions are on the lookout for a new boss after David Moyes was sacked in April, just 10 months into a six-year deal.

Van Gaal, who will leave the Netherlands following the World Cup in Brazil, is the overwhelming favourite to fill the void left by the Scotsman, with some reports suggesting he may be unveiled as soon as next week.

Former Wales assistant coach Verheijen believes the 62-year-old is the right man to return United to their glory days.

"Van Gaal is extremely keen to take a job in the Premier League," the Dutchman told the Daily Mirror.

"Van Gaal is a team builder from scratch and like a teacher. I think he would be perfect for Manchester United.

"The fact there could be as much as £200 million (€240m) to spend on new players is a huge attraction.

"If most of that money had already been spent in the last year then I think it would have been less interesting to take this job.

"Then he might have to deal with players he might not have bought himself."

Verheijen was critical of Moyes throughout his brief tenure at Old Trafford, using Twitter to voice his disapproval with aspects of the 51-year-old's coaching and tactics.

While claiming Moyes was out of his depth in Manchester, Verheijen said United officials should take responsibility for appointing the wrong successor to Sir Alex Ferguson.

"You really wonder if the people who are responsible at Man United are actually doing their homework," he added.

"I don't think it is so much the problem and responsibility of David Moyes.

"But if the people at United had done their homework they would never have appointed David Moyes; they would have appointed someone else.

"When you are managing Man United you need different tactical qualities to when you are an underdog like Everton.

"It has to do with tactical flexibility."

Read More»