The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Van Gaal

  • Van Gaal Names Finidi George in his Ajax success story

    Van Gaal Names Finidi George in his Ajax success story

    Years after Nigerian international Finidi George quit active football, his former manager and current Manchester United sweat merchant has recalled with nostalgia how he personally paid the transfer fee to get Finidi on board.

    The Dutchman who won three Eredivisie titles and the Champions League during his six years as Ajax  manager in what could pass for stock taking expressed delight that the players he had then rose to the occasion and produced impressive results even as he revealed financial constraints that forced him to rely on the club’s academy.  Van Gaal who took over Man United last year following the sacking of David Moyes revealed that he paid Finidi George’s transfer fee of £3,000, adding however that the former Eagles winger was not the only one he got on board as the likes of Edgar Davids, Patrick Kluivert, Clarence Seedorf and Edwin van der Sar all joined him to make the team tick.

    Speaking at the at the LMA annual conference, Van Gaal reflected on his time at Ajax and how he was forced to rely on the club’s academy for success.

    “We didn’t have any money and we were bankrupt, so I had to look to youth,” the Manchester United boss told The Daily Telegraph.

    “We scouted [Jari] Litmanen, a Finnish player, who we bought for £10,000. We also bought Finidi George. He was a Nigerian international. He was £3,000. I paid it by myself! And then, we bought Marc Overmars.

    “But the names that you do remember are Seedorf, Kluivert, [Michael] Reiziger. We won everything with very attacking football. I don’t say it too much because otherwise Mr Scholes will be very angry,” he enthused Wednesday

     

  • van Gaal ‘dreams’ of beating Manchester City

    van Gaal ‘dreams’ of beating Manchester City

    Louis van Gaal has claimed it would be a “dream” to defeat Manchester City on Sunday and move Manchester United into pole position for the third and final automatic Champions League qualifying spot.

    United face Manuel Pellegrini’s team at Old Trafford today aiming to avoid a fifth successive derby defeat against City, knowing that a victory would open up a four-point gap between the two teams.

    And Van Gaal admits that a win and consolidating third is the dream scenario ahead of the 169th Manchester derby.

    “Of course I dream of it. Every player dreams of victory. I have to think with my staff and my players, already a lot of days, how we have to beat Manchester City.

    “You are sitting in that process to win your next opponent. Of course, you want to win because it is a big step in the table also.

    “When you win, the third place is reachable, and a month ago nobody thinking about that, besides me, of course.

    “That is good because then you are certainly in the Champions League and then we will have done it better than the goal was in the pre-season.”

    Did you know Telegraph Sport has a Manchester United Facebook page? Van Gaal confirmed, meanwhile, that Robin van Persie will not start against City, despite ending his seven-week ankle injury lay-off by returning to training this week.

    “Van Persie is not fit enough to play,” Van Gaal said. “I also don’t think Luke Shaw is fit enough to play. I cannot say they are not fit, but in my opinion they are not fit to play.

    “Most of the players are fit, but fit for me is a different situation, so I don’t think every player is match fit,”Van Gaal said.

  • Van Gaal undaunted by weight of history

    From the moment he was appointed Manchester United boss, it was clear Louis van Gaal would be doing things differently to his predecessor.

    His first words told their own story: “This club has big ambitions; I too have big ambitions. Together I’m sure we will make history.”

    It was a bold declaration, one that was a welcome move away from the usual ‘media speak’ that accompanies such statements.

    Most striking, though, was how greatly Van Gaal’s words differed from those often uttered by the beleaguered – some would say hapless – man he replaced.

    Indeed, when David Moyes first spoke to the press upon his introduction, he had this to say: “I’m inexperienced in a lot of things and there were some brilliant managers who could have quite easily taken this role but the biggest confidence I got was that Sir Alex Ferguson said to me ‘you’re the next Manchester United manager’.

    “I hope we play the same way, with the same traditions and entertaining, exciting football.”

    While ‘hope’ was not in the vocabulary of Ferguson, Moyes was forgiven; he was new after all.

    Yet those comments proved the first of many missteps. From the repeated suggestions United were ‘trying to improve’, to the claim that Liverpool were favourites ahead of their Premier League meeting at Old Trafford.

  • Van Gaal to decide on squad after US tour

    Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said he will make a final judgement on his squad at the conclusion of the United States tour.

    Van Gaal vowed to give every player a chance to prove their worth before adding to the arrivals of Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw ahead of United’s Premier League opener against Swansea City on August 16.

    The Dutchman has stuck to his word, utilising the entire 26-man travelling squad in the four consecutive wins against the Los Angeles Galaxy, Roma, Inter and Real Madrid in the USA.

    Speaking in the lead up to Monday’s International Champions Cup final against rivals Liverpool in Miami, Van Gaal said he was close to making a decision with Marouane Fellaini, Javier Hernandez, Shinji Kagawa and Wilfried Zaha facing uncertain futures at Old Trafford.

    “I shall make judgements. After this tour I shall make judgements because I let all the players play and I know now more than before the tour,” Van Gaal told reporters.

  • Van Gaal will spark instant revival says Robson

    Manchester United can launch an immediate Premier League title challenge under new boss Louis van Gaal, says club legend Bryan Robson.

    Van Gaal will take over at Old Trafford having led the Netherlands to the World Cup semi-finals in Brazil.

    “I think United can bounce back straight away,” said Robson.

    “You could see Holland were very well organised and there was discipline. Hopefully, he can bring that to Manchester. I think he will.”

    The Red Devils head to the United States this week for a pre-season tour featuring matches against LA Galaxy, Roma, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, before returning for the start of the domestic season on 16 August.

    Van Gaal takes over from David Moyes, who was sacked in April after only 10 months in charge as United finished seventh, the club’s worst Premier League showing.

    Van Gaal was appointed on 19 May but has only just left his role as head coach of the Netherlands after guiding the Dutch to third place in Brazil.

    The 62-year-old has also won league titles with Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AZ Alkmaar.

    “His CV is great,” said former England captain Robson, who spent 13 years at United. “He’s got great experience with top clubs and top players.”

  • Robben rejects Van Gaal’s United proposal

    Louis van Gaal is expected to take at least one player from the Dutch national team to Manchester United but it will not be Arjen Robben.

    The Netherlands’ 3-0 win over Brazil in the FIFA World Cup’s third-place play-off on Saturday was Van Gaal’s last game in charge before he takes over at United and, afterwards, Dutch attacker Robben turned down an offer from the 62-year-old to join him at Old Trafford.

    However, Robben’s strike partner Robin van Persie, who is already on United’s books, hinted Van Gaal would be taking at least one Dutchman from Brazil to the Premier League.

    “Admittedly, sometimes I know more than you guys,” Van Persie told Dutch TV station NOS when asked if other Dutch national team members would be playing at United next season.

    After being dubbed Netherlands’ best player in their penalty shoot-out defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals by Van Gaal, central defender Ron Vlaar could be an option to move from Aston Villa to United.

    Stefan de Vrij of Feyenoord may also be targeted by Van Gaal as United look to replace long-standing central defensive pairing Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.

    Robben was arguably Netherlands’ leading player of the tournament and was clearly one of Van Gaal’s favourites but the 30-year-old looks unlikely to leave Bavaria.

    “After the match he did ask me to come to Manchester,” Robben said.

    “I’m very happy with where I am now. I told [Van Gaal] that.”

    “Van Gaal is the best coach I’ve had, we’ve got a very special relationship but I will not make a transfer.

    “I’m at the right place at Bayern so that has nothing to do with Van Gaal or United.”

    Van Gaal has already signed Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera since taking over as United’s manager.