Dutch midfield legend Mark van Bommel speaks to Sport360 about life under current Old Trafford chief Louis van Gaal and the talents of new signing Memphis Depay.
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The former Holland skipper won league titles in his homeland with PSV Eindhoven, in Spain with Barcelona, Germany with Bayern and AC Milan in Italy.
But here he lifts the lid on his clash with van Gaal at Bayern after his compatriot signed Luiz Gustavo and told Van Bommel he was no longer captain or even first choice, and the potential of winger Depay, his former team-mate at PSV before he retired in 2013.
Van Bommel was speaking after playing for Bayern Munich against Manchester United in a Legends game to raise funds for the Manchester United Foundation,
Q. What was it like working under van Gaal at Bayern Munich?
A. 2009 was Louis’s first year at Bayern. It was a successful year. We won the Bundesliga, the cup and were in the final of the Champions League.
It was a big change for the club. We had had Jurgen Klinsmann and then Van Gaal came and it was totally different. He wanted to change the whole club. It was a change of culture from the German to the Dutch. It was totally different and we had slight problems in the beginning especially with the chairman but everything settled down, then in October we were winning.
Watch an exclusive interview with Louis van Gaal as he looks ahead to #MUtour in the USA: http://t.co/prTuS37gQC https://t.co/X9lLNWIsXX
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 15, 2015
But the next season was tough and it was a shock when you left for AC Milan?
On the pitch he is good but outside it was a little bit difficult. He has a way and it is his way. He wanted to go straight. He doesn’t want to go right or go left, only straight.
Everybody knows what he wants. I had a little problem with him in 2010 in December and I went to Milan in January [2011]. I was the captain and it was strange to change clubs in the winter. Ok it was my decision to go and no regrets.
I was the captain of the team and I had to protect my players. Maybe I was a little bit 120 per cent doing that. I wanted to help the other guys. Maybe I could have settled down and let it go. But that is the way I am. That is my character and it was his character as well.
Is that why his debut season at United was difficult and they took time to find their form to finish fourth in the Premier League?
Yes. In Germany we had the same problems. It is a total 100 per cent change. Given the time, he has good ideas how to play on the pitch. But he is not easy to work with. Maybe that is the life of a coach because sometimes you have to make decisions that are not so nice.
He has a way and he goes straight. Only if you have a good argument he will listen. If you say it was s**t he will the ask you why. Then you have to explain.
As a coach you have to be straight. You cannot alter because otherwise the players are making a joke out of you.
Man Utd Legends and #FCBAllStars reunited at Old Trafford today! #LegendsAreBack #DutchConnection @FCBayern @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/a8X34PscY2
— Mark van Bommel (@MarkvanBommel6) June 14, 2015
There was an incident when he dropped his trousers at Bayern to make a point to the players that he made tough decisions for the sake of the team. What happened?
The German players didn’t understand what he meant. He was trying to say he changed two players after 55 minutes and he wanted to explain why he did it. He was searching for the right words and his explanation was he doesn’t change for a change – I have an idea.
Afterwards we were laughing and we were doing it in the dressing room as well.
But is he a good coach and can he bring success to United?
The Dutch way of coaching is we think how we can attack an opponent and defeat them, to be better with the ball and without it. To be better physically, technically and tactically. Every aspect of the game we need to be the best, we want to be the best. That is the Dutch way of thinking.
He wants to be better and better and better. If he loses and his team have played better then that is OK for him. But I am not a typical Dutch guy. I learnt in Italy as well that you have to win and play well but if you are not playing well you still have to win the game.
I think he can bring success here because it is Manchester United. Manchester United can buy the best players and they have the best players so the opportunities are bigger than at, for example Stoke City, and the pressure is bigger here.
If you don’t win it is difficult. He has qualities and he is able to build a good team. Every Dutch coach is similar to him. They want to build a team. They want to win of course but it is difficult because every year players are changing.
Is he ruthless, though, and how will any new big-name players, including Depay, cope with his methods?
He is different from other coaches. You have to get used to him and if you do, it is simple. If you are scared of him then you don’t have the qualities to play at this level. Have respect for him but don’t be scared.
Memphis Depay can do well because he worked with him at the World Cup. It is easier for him to come in to this club. If you don’t know the coach and you come from abroad it is not so easy.
This on Memphis Depay is fantastic! What an athlete we’ve got ourselves. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/8Qv2VHX6YD
— Manchester United (@ManUnitedWorld) June 14, 2015
How good is Memphis?
It is difficult to predict but he has qualities. You need wingers like Cristiano Ronaldo, Robben, Ribery, Messi, Neymar.
He has the potential [to be like them], you never know, but I don’t say he is the new Messi because I can see the headlines.
In Holland it was easy for him now he has to make the next step. He has come to a fantastic club and now it is time to adjust to that level. He has to adjust really quickly. He has the technical skills. He has to be focused. But if he goes into the locker room and does stupid things there are players who will say ‘hey Memphis easy, settle down and play.
You played in all the top leagues, bar England. Why?
I was close to going to Leeds United in 2000 when they reached the Champions League semi-final and Tottenham several times. I wanted to come to England because the way I play fits. I was negotiating with Milan and then Spurs came in but it was too late.
