Boring! This is how every single Manchester United fan had described the team’s performances as during Louis van Gaal’s two season spell at Old Trafford. Useless ball possession, long balls, side and back passing were the dominant words to describe the Dutch manager’s philosophy.
Beside his vague philosophy, the amount of money spent in the two seasons and the expectations from those signings were questionable as well. Star signings such as Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao came in and left without even leaving a single sweet memory for the Red Devil fans.
Jose Mourinho’s arrival had seen the cards shuffled and reorganised at Old Trafford. Subsequently, team and individual player performances have seen a significant change. Some unhappy players have seen the light again and most importantly, the fans could smile again after three disastrous seasons.
Every new manager has his own approaches and principles. This could suit some players and could put an end to the spell of some others.
The former Netherlands manager signed a three-year contract when he joined the club, but he was shown the exit door at the end of his second season, winning the Emirates FA Cup. Now if the former Barcelona coach had served the last year of his contract as Manchester United manager, some players could have never played for him again.
We look at the most important five of those.
#5 Phil Jones
The English defender had featured in 10 Premier League matches in the 2015/16 season and was mostly sidelined due to a series of injuries. When fit, he barely convinced the Dutch and usually started on the bench.
This season, Mourinho’s man management and Eric Bailly’s injury and involvement in the AFCON had given him the chance to prove his worth to the Portuguese and he has already played more league minutes (1044) than last season (535).
#4 Marcos Rojo
Together with Phil Jones, the Argentine formed a dependable defensive pair at the back to cover the injured Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly this season.
Rojo’s unconvincing performances at the left back position had put his Old Trafford future in doubt as the former Sporting CP player had only played 1249 minutes (16 matches) of Premier League football in the 2015/16 season.
#3 Michael Carrick
The veteran midfielder was serving the last year of his Manchester United contract in the 2015/16 season and the vice captain’s future at the Theater of Dreams was uncertain. Moreover, there was no intention showed by the former Ajax manager to renew the former Tottenham Hotspur player’s contract.
Van Gaal’s continuous search for a central midfielder was a key message that Carrick could have left the club at the end of last season.
#2 Ander Herrera
The Spaniard was brought to the club as a promising central midfielder who can organise the middle of the park and score some goals. David Moyes tried to sign him in the beginning but he was actually the first signing of the Van Gaal era.
Herrera played 27 Premier League matches in the 2015/16 season under Louis van Gaal and he was mostly involved from the bench, being accused as a foul-prone player by the Dutch.
This season, it is safe to say that Herrera is Mourinho’s very own N'Golo Kanté at Manchester United, and his midfield role is very significant to the Portuguese manager. In fact, the former Athletic Bilbao player is providing the balance and helping the likes of Paul Pogba flourish in the opposition half.
Also Read: Ander Herrera's rising importance to Manchester United
#1 David De Gea
Louis van Gaal did enough to prevent De Gea from joining Real Madrid, and despite the Spaniard’s contract renewal on September 2015, it was not a complete guarantee that the goalkeeper will serve his full contract at the Theater of Dreams.
The Spanish giants had always targeted (and maybe still until today) the former Atlético Madrid player. It was quite clear that the Dutch manager was not De Gea’s cup of tea and his Old Trafford exit could have been confirmed, had Van Gaal served his full contract at the club.
