The CEO of German sportswear giants Adidas, Herbert Hainer has added to the pressure on Louis van Gaal and his ‘philosophy’, expressing his unhappiness with Manchester United’s current style of football. While Adidas are ‘satisfied’ with Manchester United’s shirt sales, they hope for a team that is easier on the eye.
In an interview with German publication, Suddeutsche Zeitung, Hainer revealed his thoughts on the Manchester United deal, saying, “Business with Man United is going very well. We sell more jerseys than expected, the foreign share is 60%.”
“We are satisfied, even if the actual way of playing of United is not exactly what we want to see.”
Adidas have a right to be slightly demanding, as they signed the biggest shirt sponsorship deal in football history with Manchester United last season, pouring £750 million into the Red Devils’ coffers for a 10 year contract.
Hainer’s concerns might have been slightly tempered after Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over Swansea. However, that was the Red Devils’ first win in 9 games, a run that Old Trafford has not witnessed for 26 years.
United are the most boring team in the Premier League
Old Trafford has only witnessed 15 goals this season, a pitiful return for Louis van Gaal’s possession-based philosophy. It has led to repeated chants of “Attack! Attack! Attack!” from the Old Trafford faithful, who were accustomed to a far less ponderous style of build up play under Sir Alex Ferguson.
It is one of Ferguson’s charges who has laid into Van Gaal this season, as Paul Scholes has repeatedly branded United’s style of football, ‘boring’, as he went on to dimiss the Dutchman’s philosophy, saying, “For me, Manchester United don't need a philosophy. The fans want to see attacking football and goals - that's the Manchester United way.”
“There's a lack of creativity and risk, but it seems he (Van Gaal) doesn't want players to beat men and it's probably not a team I'd have enjoyed playing in.”
Scholes & Adidas have a valid point, that is borne out by the statistics as well. The 19 games that Manchester United have been involved with this season have only yielded 38 goals, the lowest total of all the Premier League teams, thus making the Red Devils the statistically most boring team in the Premier League, with a dismal 2 goals per game average.
