Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2017 11:13:15 GMT
Mitten on VG :
www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/sport-opinion/how-van-gaal-fans-remember-12470471
Life’s tough for Louis van Gaal and his family at present. His son in law passed away last month aged only 42; his youngest sister died last week. This week, he reportedly announced his retirement as a football manager, aged 65.
Family reasons were given and colleagues and former players including Andres Iniesta paid tributes. But his retirement was news to his close friends who understand that he’s not retired, more that he’s currently upset and confused at what life has thrown at him they still wouldn’t rule him out from returning to football in the future.
Van Gaal hoped that he’d still be at Manchester United this season. Manchester United fans did not. They supported him, they sang his name and they made him and his wife feel as welcome as they could have hoped. The couple loved the warmness of the northern English people; they worried why there were so many homeless people on the streets of Manchester. They were compassionate, friendly and committed to life in England, but he was always going to be judged on the football that his side played and after more than 100 games, it wasn’t unfair to judge him. It wasn’t good enough – though it was unfair to boo him, as some United fans did, after he’d won the FA Cup in May.
United are sixth – as they were this time last year under Van Gaal – but the team have six points more, are playing better football and seem to be heading in the right, not wrong, direction. United’s 40 points would have been sufficient to have the team third and only three points off the top this time last year. Arsenal, Chelsea, United, City and Liverpool all have more points this season than at the same stage last term – and Arsenal were top a year ago. The competition is more intense at this point. Van Gaal hoped to be part of that and felt let down that he wasn’t, but few United fans disagreed with the decision to let him go.
Van Gaal picked up a richly deserved lifetime award for innovation in Holland on Monday, though he now spends most of his time in the Portuguese Algarve. He considered getting back into management and spoke to the Belgian FA about managing their national side, but it came to nothing. More recently, he also had a lucrative offer from China in an advisory role, but declined, just as he’s declined most media interview requests since leaving Old Trafford.
In accepting his award in his homeland and in an accompanying interview with AD he praised Chelsea coach Antonio Conte for finding something that works in English football, a system with three defenders. He claimed that he tried it at United but that he didn’t have the players to pull it off. He also described his last six months at United, saying: “The circumstances were so difficult. That is why the trophy I won, the FA Cup, I consider the biggest trophy in my career. When they have put you on a stage with your head on the block, my head was in a noose for six months.
“Under those circumstances I was expected to inspire the players every day. Going to the absolute climax of the FA Cup Final, ending with 10 men and having to score to win in extra-time. Having gone through all that, and then walking away with the trophy, was incredible for me.”
It’s positive that he sees his FA Cup success so well. Van Gaal was one of the football’s best coaches in his prime, but not at Old Trafford where the usually soporific football wore out the patience of fans who, not unreasonably, expected better.
Yet he was a personality who remains popular with the members of staff whom he took into his confidence. And he was a great character too, from lying down by the side of the pitch against Arsenal to his madcap quotes about sadomasochism and Dutchmen tipping their hats. Football is entertainment, a release from normal life. Van Gaal was entertaining, but his football wasn’t in Manchester.
Van Gaal’s experienced a great football life, though, managing the biggest clubs in the world. To this day, no manager with more than 50 Champions League games has a better win rate than Van Gaal’s 60% in the competition. And, when he’s had time to grieve, he may feel that a return to football isn’t bad for him.
www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/sport-opinion/how-van-gaal-fans-remember-12470471
Life’s tough for Louis van Gaal and his family at present. His son in law passed away last month aged only 42; his youngest sister died last week. This week, he reportedly announced his retirement as a football manager, aged 65.
Family reasons were given and colleagues and former players including Andres Iniesta paid tributes. But his retirement was news to his close friends who understand that he’s not retired, more that he’s currently upset and confused at what life has thrown at him they still wouldn’t rule him out from returning to football in the future.
Van Gaal hoped that he’d still be at Manchester United this season. Manchester United fans did not. They supported him, they sang his name and they made him and his wife feel as welcome as they could have hoped. The couple loved the warmness of the northern English people; they worried why there were so many homeless people on the streets of Manchester. They were compassionate, friendly and committed to life in England, but he was always going to be judged on the football that his side played and after more than 100 games, it wasn’t unfair to judge him. It wasn’t good enough – though it was unfair to boo him, as some United fans did, after he’d won the FA Cup in May.
United are sixth – as they were this time last year under Van Gaal – but the team have six points more, are playing better football and seem to be heading in the right, not wrong, direction. United’s 40 points would have been sufficient to have the team third and only three points off the top this time last year. Arsenal, Chelsea, United, City and Liverpool all have more points this season than at the same stage last term – and Arsenal were top a year ago. The competition is more intense at this point. Van Gaal hoped to be part of that and felt let down that he wasn’t, but few United fans disagreed with the decision to let him go.
Van Gaal picked up a richly deserved lifetime award for innovation in Holland on Monday, though he now spends most of his time in the Portuguese Algarve. He considered getting back into management and spoke to the Belgian FA about managing their national side, but it came to nothing. More recently, he also had a lucrative offer from China in an advisory role, but declined, just as he’s declined most media interview requests since leaving Old Trafford.
In accepting his award in his homeland and in an accompanying interview with AD he praised Chelsea coach Antonio Conte for finding something that works in English football, a system with three defenders. He claimed that he tried it at United but that he didn’t have the players to pull it off. He also described his last six months at United, saying: “The circumstances were so difficult. That is why the trophy I won, the FA Cup, I consider the biggest trophy in my career. When they have put you on a stage with your head on the block, my head was in a noose for six months.
“Under those circumstances I was expected to inspire the players every day. Going to the absolute climax of the FA Cup Final, ending with 10 men and having to score to win in extra-time. Having gone through all that, and then walking away with the trophy, was incredible for me.”
It’s positive that he sees his FA Cup success so well. Van Gaal was one of the football’s best coaches in his prime, but not at Old Trafford where the usually soporific football wore out the patience of fans who, not unreasonably, expected better.
Yet he was a personality who remains popular with the members of staff whom he took into his confidence. And he was a great character too, from lying down by the side of the pitch against Arsenal to his madcap quotes about sadomasochism and Dutchmen tipping their hats. Football is entertainment, a release from normal life. Van Gaal was entertaining, but his football wasn’t in Manchester.
Van Gaal’s experienced a great football life, though, managing the biggest clubs in the world. To this day, no manager with more than 50 Champions League games has a better win rate than Van Gaal’s 60% in the competition. And, when he’s had time to grieve, he may feel that a return to football isn’t bad for him.
"United’s flag is deepest red, it shrouded all our Munich dead. Before their limbs grew stiff and cold, their heart’s blood dyed it’s ev’ry fold. Then raise United’s banner high, beneath it’s shade we’ll live and die. So keep the faith and never fear." 
