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If the results were not disheartening enough for Louis van Gaal and co., Dutch legend Ruud Gullit has taken a hit at his countryman, Louis van Gaal, questioning his transfer policy at the club.
Gullit, who has earlier managed Chelsea in the Premier League, has criticized van Gaal saying he has failed to understand the Premier League.
“How on earth is it possible that such an experienced and successful manager thought he could start the season at Manchester United without buying a couple of really strong central defenders?” Gullit wrote in his column for De Telegraaf. “I am still amazed by his buying and his transfers. If you only strengthen the midfield and the attack, then you are underestimating the level and the power of the Premier League.”
“If you want to survive in the top flight of English football you start with the foundation and you build the roof of your house last. Van Gaal has done it the other way round. After the departure of Nemanja Vidic to Inter, and Rio Ferdinand to QPR it was obvious that new central defenders were needed. And he had 200 million in his chequebook to spend. If you don’t use part of that to buy strong, experienced central defenders you have the wrong idea about the Premier League,” he adds.
Van Gaal’s transition to the Premier League hasn’t been very smooth as the Red Devils find themselves in the seventh position in the League table with only 8 points from 6 matches.
“Now matters are even worse because of all the injuries in his defence. He is having to fill one gap after another. And if you have so many injuries and you have not bought the defenders, then you are doing something wrong at your club,” he continued.
“I do want him to be successful at Man United, but by the time he has repaired his team at the back, it will another three months down the road. I feel that his transfer policy at United and his choice to buy only midfielders and attackers is down to his Dutch background. In Holland he grew up only thinking about attacking football.”
“Van Gaal is learning lessons right now. He sees that his defenders are having to deal with the strongest strikers in the world. They bash into his young defenders. In England there are different laws in football. Just look at Gerard Pique. At Barcelona he has become one of the best defenders in the world. At Man United he could not get a look in.’
While Manchester United were able to bolster their attacking options with signings like Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao, they have been struggling with their defence.
