Louis van Gaal has told Erik ten Hag that he should consider declining the manager’s post at Manchester United because the club is a “commercial business” and he would be “better off going to a football club.”
Louis van Gaal was Manchester United’s manager for two seasons before being fired in 2016 after failing to finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League.
He advises his fellow countryman Erik ten Hag, who is currently in charge of Ajax, not to accept the United position if it is offered to him. “He must choose a football club, not a business club,” Van Gaal told reporters.
As the Ajax manager is connected with Manchester United, Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal says Erik ten Hag choose select a “football club and not a commercial club.”
Ten Hag is one of the frontrunners to become United’s permanent manager this summer, and he has been interviewed for the position.
Other names on the Old Trafford shortlist are Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique, and Julen Lopetegui, with United interim boss Ralf Rangnick, along with executives Darren Fletcher and John Murtough, playing a role in picking his replacement.
Van Gaal also struck back at Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, who admitted that he favours a 4-3-3 formation to the Netherlands manager’s preferred 3-4-1-2 style.
Previously, Van Dijk stated: “Do I think it’s a good system? Well, I’m still a fan of 4-3-3, but I’m not the national coach, and he has a strong opinion on the subject.”
“I know he has that preference, he has always stated this publicly,” the 70-year-old responded.
“When I first arrived here, we were already having this discussion. The tactics are decided by the management.”
The Netherlands have qualified for the World Cup in Qatar, which begins in November, in Van Gaal’s third tenure in charge.
Since taking over from Frank de Boer in August of last year, Van Gaal has won six and drawn two of his eight matches.
