Ex-United coach claims Manchester United managers do not get enough say on transfers
Former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has repeated his scathing critique of his old club, warning that the Red Devils remain a “commercial club” rather than a true “football club”.
Van Gaal managed United from 2014 to 2016, lifting the FA Cup in his second season after a Jesse Lingard-inspired comeback at Wembley. But the Dutchman was sacked shortly afterwards, allegedly while still celebrating the trophy win. He has since been a fierce critic of the club.
“It is still a commercial club. It is not a football club. I have said that before,” Van Gaal told Sky Sports News.
“That’s always difficult. When it’s not the manager deciding which player has to come, it’s very difficult.”
Although Van Gaal’s criticism appears to be primarily based on approach to recruitment, with the club having allegedly shut down some of his transfer targets during his tenure, this is a common practice in many clubs, with incomings and outgoings not solely the remit of the manager.
Asked whether he felt the manager should have more control over transfer policy, Van Gaal said: “I think it’s the way that it should be, because then you can fire a manager because he’s not getting results.
But when other persons buy the players, then you have a problem. You need to have the knowledge and orientation of the manager, because he has to train them.”
He pointed to Liverpool, saying that they are following the better model.
“Arne Slot is the man who says to his technical manager, ‘You need to buy this player.’ Pay attention to it.”
