Van Gaal Interview: ManU is too commercial

[charlie]

This is one of the best and most insightful interviews, delving into the minds of one of the most successful managers of all time.
Must read stuff.

Full interview at the following link:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... -solskjaer

Were you surprised that Solskjær was given the job permanently?

I was very surprised he got it in spite of the winning run at the start.

Why?

Because Manchester United is one of the biggest clubs in the world that needs a manager with experience and not a manager who has trained at one or two teams and on a lower level.

Is it almost impossible then to succeed at these big clubs, at United? I remember your first press conference, you basically said ‘it’s too much commercial, this club’.

I’m happy that you remember that. I think you have to change the structure in the organisation of Manchester United because now I think the balance between the football department and commercial department is not right and even slopes over to the commercial.

What does it take to be a perfect technical director or director of football?

First of all you need knowledge of the game, methods of training, preparation experience, youth education, scouting and you have to think in structures. So you need a lot of experience in the football world. When you are in your profession as a technical director, you have developed a name, then you have a big network and you can always make use of that network.

[tfco]

nothing more to add

if you interview Moyes and Jose, they will say similar
in a few years, OGS will say the same

the problem is Woodward, not the coaches

[charlie]

nothing more to add

if you interview Moyes and Jose, they will say similar
in a few years, OGS will say the same

the problem is Woodward, not the coaches

The part where he talked about how US tours impacted preparations was really telling. A quick start to the season can make the difference between UEFA champions league and UEFA cup.

[tfco]

nothing more to add

if you interview Moyes and Jose, they will say similar
in a few years, OGS will say the same

the problem is Woodward, not the coaches

The part where he talked about how US tours impacted preparations was really telling. A quick start to the season can make the difference between UEFA champions league and UEFA cup.

..and i think those tours are factored into the players' contracts... so they_have_to_be_there

[Coach]

@charles, couldn’t agree more. If not mistaken, there was a certain one of these tours during which United were laying waste to all sorts prompting a plethora of “go hear wens”, in a kaleidoscope of colours. Don’t recall many complaint about said commerce amongst the jubilant postings mind you. Ole’s at the wheel.

[cic old boy]

I remember making the same points he made about the style they played under him with too many square balls. They didn't have the midfielders that could execute a more progressive passing game.