Manchester United’s players have been reacting to the news that Louis van Gaal is no longer their manager.
On Monday United released a statement confirming the Dutchman, 64, was no longer in charge at Old Trafford with his three-year deal cut short after a fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season and a fifth-place finish this season.
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Despite winning the FA Cup last weekend at Wembley, it wasn’t enough for LVG to keep his job after his players failed to finish in the top four and qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Jose Mourinho is reportedly in talks with United about succeeding Van Gaal and is expected to be appointed by the end of this week.
Dutch utility man Daley Blind was signed by Van Gaal two years ago for $19 million from Ajax and his father, Danny, was LVG’s assistant with the Dutch national team and is the current head coach of the Oranje.
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Speaking to the media as the Netherlands are in Portugal preparing to face the Republic of Ireland, Poland and Austria in upcoming friendlies, Blind shared his thoughts on how Van Gaal was treated.“I always worked well with him and would have been keen that the co-operation lasted longer,” Blind said. “A manager who has achieved so much already deserved more respect. Even though there was so much being written about him losing his job over the last months, he always looked to protect and shelter us.
“It is not easy for a coach if you are repeatedly being fired in the newspapers. Still, we as a squad kept believing in the manager and showed that with our FA Cup win. That we did together for the supporters, the manager and for ourselves. It was in the end a good finish to the season.”
Blind’s words are perhaps not a surprise as the Dutch international was often seen out having dinner in Manchester with Van Gaal’s family, plus his own father Danny who is a long-term LVG man.
Memphis Depay, 22, was another Dutch player LVG brought in but after arriving from PSV Eindhoven for $37.5 million last summer he scored just two goals in the Premier League and wasn’t even on the bench for the FA Cup final win against Crystal Palace last Saturday. Despite all of that, he still wants to stay at United next season.
“I don’t know why it wouldn’t be. I am happy to be there and the management know I’m happy to be there,” Memphis said. “A love-hate relationship? I’m not sure about that. But him leaving is part of life in football and you learn from that and it makes you stronger.”
The rest of United’s squad are yet to speak on the matter or share any message on social media about the outgoing Dutch manager.
Perhaps that’s the most telling indication of how LVG was really thought of by the vast majority of the United dressing room as reports of severe unrest have surfaced multiple times throughout his eventful two years in charge at Old Trafford.
Let’s see who says what in the coming days as the dust begins to settle.
