Manchester United assistant coach Ryan Giggs can become the next Jose Mourinho, says Van Gaal

Van Gaal backs Giggs to shine as a manager in the future.

Ahead of Manchester United’s key clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this weekend, manager Louis van Gaal suggested his assistant Ryan Giggs has what it takes to emulate Jose Mourinho as a top manager in near future.

During the Dutchman’s first tenure at Barcelona, he chose Mourinho to be a part of his coaching staff. The time spent under Van Gaal was a crucial part of Mourinho’s learning process as he studied to become a top manager.

The 63-year old believes Giggs has the hunger as his assistant coach to win games at the highest level and believes he could be as good as Jose Mourinho over the next few years.

“It is always difficult to compare people with each other. Jose Mourinho was not a world class player like Ryan Giggs,” said the Reds boss.

“That is the same thing with me. I was not a world class player like Johan Cruyff. But our ambition is then maybe higher.

“But I have to admit, I could not imagine when I spoke with Ryan in May to ask him that he could be my assistant manager and we spoke about how we see it, that he would work so very hard.

“As an ex player, you are not used to working hard but he is a very hard worker. He reads the game very good, like Jose. But to manage a group you have to learn. What I can see is that he is also learning quickly.”

So can the Welshman go all the way to become a top manager?

“Maybe, yes, you never know.”

With another couple of seasons to go before Van Gaal’s current contract expires, Ryan Giggs would then be 44 – the same age when Sir Alex took up the Old Trafford job.

Maybe some things are just meant to be, or not?