adminLONDON. — Hristo Stoichkov has launched a scathing attack on Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal.
He has claimed the 64-year-old is destroying the club, warned Pedro his career will be ruined if he joins the Old Trafford outfit, and slammed the manager’s handling of keeper Victor Valdes.
Stoichkov, a Barcelona legend in two spells at the Nou Camp, played under Van Gaal for the Spanish giants.
But he has never forgiven the United chief for ending his Barca career by selling him in 1998.
Now, with Barcelona ace Pedro on the brink of moving to United, Stoichkov has lashed out at his former chief.
He said: “I would never be under the orders of Louis van Gaal.
“He’s mediocre. He destroyed Barca and is destroying Manchester United.
“With what he has done to Valdes he has shown he is a bad person.
“Hopefully Pedro listens to me and doesn’t leave.”
Rafael da Silva has also claimed van Gaal “did not like” him.
Rafael completed his move to Ligue 1 side Lyon last week for a fee of around £2.5m and the 25-year-old has lifted the lid on his seven-year spell at Old Trafford, where he played under three different managers.
When asked about Van Gaal’s reported dislike of Brazilian players, Rafael, in an interview in Globo Esporte was quoted as saying: “I don’t know, sincerely. I don’t know what to say about that, because I was the only one, since Anderson left before.
“I know this history that he doesn’t like Brazilian [players], but I can’t say: ‘Oh, he doesn’t like Brazilians’.
“I know that he didn’t like me, but if that’s because I’m Brazilian, I don’t know.”
Rafael also revealed that the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in May 2013 was a hammer blow to his United career.
“I did the complete season, when he (Ferguson) left. In 2012-13 I played almost every game, it was my best season at United, we were even champions.
“And that’s when they changed the manager. That change was fatal for me. I was going well, then Ferguson left.
“That’s what changed, so Valencia started playing as a right-back for Van Gaal. He’s also a great player, but I was doing well in that position.”
“Ferguson even called to wish me good luck,” said Rafael, who had one year left on his United deal before he penned a four-year contract with Lyon. I had a very good relationship with him, he helped me a lot in Manchester, and always did everything to help me. He signed me when I was 16, I don’t even know what to say.”
Rafael had little to say about David Moyes’ short tenure at Old Trafford, he added: “I won’t talk much about the relationship with Moyes, because it was too little, less than a year. And with Van Gaal the relationship was normal. He had his opinions, his thoughts, Everyone has their opinion. A manager is a manager. I always respected it and I will always respect it.”
Meanwhile, United legends Peter Schmeichel and Bryan Robson have weighed in on the great keeper debate surrounding David De Gea at their old club. — The Daily Star-Sky Sports.
Online Reporter