MANCHESTER, England (AP) – Louis van Gaal is 18 months and $375 million into his “process” of rebuilding Manchester United.
What’s it got him? So far this season, a playing squad lacking balance and depth, accusations that he is betraying United’s heritage of attacking football, and an ignominious exit from the group stage of the Champion League.
“United just look like an average team, and with an average team you are going to get average performances,” former United great Paul Scholes said after a 3-2 loss at Wolfsburg on Tuesday consigned the team to Thursday nights in the oft-maligned Europa League.
Supporters of the increasingly embattled Van Gaal argue he has stabilized United after a period of upheaval following Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013 and David Moyes’ ill-fated 10-month tenure. They’d point to a lengthy injury list that keeps robbing Van Gaal of key players. They’d say United is fourth in the Premier League, still has three trophies to play for this season and that it’s too soon to make judgments, especially with another transfer window looming.
Critics counter by saying it would be tough not to be in what appears to be the most open Premier League title race in years – although Chelsea somehow has managed to be out of contention already. They’d say being in the Europa League is humiliating – former United defender Rio Ferdinand called it “embarrassing” – for a club of United’s wealth and stature.