Louis van Gaal has called Manchester United a “commercial club” which is more focussed on money, saying this is what sets Bayern Munich, whom the Dutchman managed for just under two seasons, apart from the Premier League club.
The 66-year-old was sacked by United in 2016, right after winning the FA Cup with the club.
“Manchester United, the last team I coached, are a commercial club, Bayern are totally different,” Van Gaal said.
“The bosses, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeness, are former players who know what they are talking about.
“For them, football is the most important thing, not money, like it is at United.
“That’s why I love FC Bayern.”
The Dutch disciplinarian earned a reputation for promoting dour possession football at United, which ultimately led to his dismissal despite the FA Cup triumph. However, he nonetheless endeared himself to United fans with his drunken speech at the club’s end-of-year awards ceremony in 2015, as well as his touchline antics during a 2016 win over Arsenal.
Van Gaal confirmed two legends from his turbulent times at Bayern which had burnished his reputation long before he turned up at Old Trafford.
He admits once pulling striker Luca Toni by the ear for slouching during a meal – “it was disrespectful to his team-mates and me”.
He also hints that he pulled down his underwear in the dressing room, after defeat at Mainz, to show his stars he “had the balls” to drop them.
“What happened with my players behind closed doors should remain so, but anyone who knows me also knows it could have happened. I am emotional,” said Van Gaal.
