adminA group of Manchester United players confronted manager Louis van Gaal over his training methods earlier this season, according to reports. The Times and The Sun both reported yesterday that the players concerned believe Van Gaal’s approach to training is too “rigid” and does not allow them to “express” themselves enough.
The Times said that, after dressing-room talks, senior figures had approached the Dutchman several weeks ago “to raise complaints about a lack of creativity” and to express their concern that “training orders have become so inflexible that they are hampering performances.”
The Daily Telegraph later reported that United’s senior players have been angry over the treatment of Brazilian defender Rafael da Silva and the over-reliance on video analyst Max Reckers to lead lengthy feedback sessions.
The Sun also reported that there has been “some disquiet behind the scenes” over the handling of the David De Gea situation, with the Spain goalkeeper not selected so far this season and then denied a move to Real Madrid over a paperwork delay.
Despite those apparent concerns, De Gea has said he is happy to return to Old Trafford after international duty and is hoping to win back his place in the side ahead of tomorrow’s meeting with Liverpool.
Meanwhile, former United defender Rio Ferdinand, who left Old Trafford last year ahead of Van Gaal’s first season in charge, has expressed concern about the direction of the club.
Asked about the differences between Van Gaal and Sir Alex Ferguson’s philosophies, Ferdinand said in the Irish Examiner: “Everything.
“In terms of players, the personnel are completely different, and the way they play. You associate Man United with pace and power, explosive fantasy in the final third, but that’s not the way it is now.
“Man United fans are having to re-educate themselves on what they’re going to see. You’re not going to see what you saw for the last 25 years. It will be a completely different type of football — not football I enjoy watching as much and probably most Man United fans are like that.
“It’s methodical and really slow going side to side whereas before it was ‘bang, go.’ It’s getting the ball through the team not very quickly, keeping the ball from side to side and waiting for an opening and the time to come for a glaring opportunity to go forward.”
He added: “If I was a betting man I wouldn’t put money on United winning the Premier League and certainly not the Champions League.
“Right now, I don’t see a huge improvement from last season.”
United, who finished fourth in Van Gaal’s debut season, are currently fifth in the Premier League, having taken seven points from their opening four games. — Soccernet
derick.khumalo