Louis Van Gaal’s two-year reign may finally come to an end, with reports indicating that the Dutchman may be offered his P45 to allow Jose Mourinho to take over at Manchester United. The fact that the 12-year long-awaited FA cup victory too could not save the manager’s job speaks volumes of how miserable his time at the helm of Old Trafford has been. The Dutch has been booed by considerable swaths of supporters on many occasions for making Manchester United play an unattractive style of football, and rumours regarding his sacking have been ever-existent in the air since December.
Van Gaal had famously promised on his arrival that things would start clicking within three months and had even guaranteed the Premier League honours this season, but conveniently ignored all the vows behind a mask of “philosophy” and “process”. The Red Devils ended the season with only one goal scored more than minnows Sunderland, who had been sitting in the relegation for 237 days and finished 17th, sparking widespread criticism from club’s legends, supporters and pundits alike.
Reports have now emerged suggesting that Van Gaal had lost respect in the dressing room following his brutal “crucifixion” of the players through videos and lengthy emails and the “boring” style of football he imposed on the team, having even led the players close to mutiny.
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The Guardian reported that Van Gaal started “crucifying” players in front of each other in “evaluation sessions” held the day after each match, prompting the club’s senior players, Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick to advise the Dutch manager to soften his approach.
Van Gaal then started sending lengthy and tedious emails to each player along with videos to highlight his dissatisfaction with their performances in each match. Players who had completely lost their trust in the manager started ignoring the emails which prompted the Gaffer to use a tracking system to check on when and for how long his emails were opened and read, leading to a cat and mouse chase, with the rebellious still defiant and emails were left open on phones for up to twenty minutes.
Another tactic that further worsened the dressing room atmosphere was the bland footballing style imposed, with players instructed not to take on first-time shots near the penalty area, but instead take a touch on the ball. Wide players were told to wait for support and lay off balls to full backs and discouraged from taking on their man.
Even the forwards were not spared and were advised to control the ball, lay it off, get in the penalty area, wait for it and repeat the process again and again. This explains why Angel Di Maria could not flourish in spite of being one of the best wingers in the world and why Memphis Depay miserably flopped in his first season.
Van Gaal has also been accused of favouring Bastian Schweinsteiger, whom he signed this summer from Bayern Munich but has started only 13 league games this season.
It has also become apparent that a lot of players wanted Ryan Giggs to take over on the basis that he has a better understanding of the club than Mourinho, as well as being less likely to fall out with everyone a couple of years down the line. Many club legend’s also have opposed the idea of Mourinho taking over, but with the Portuguese’s shadow looming large, it is highly unlikely that the Welshman is handed over the reins of his childhood club.
The style of play that has now become synonymous with the club and the direction in which the club has moved since the Dutchman’s arrival is clear to stir minimal sympathy among the players and the club’s supporters, if and when Louis van Gaal is sacked.
