Van Gaal takes aim at Manchester United: Just a commercial club!

Van Gaal takes aim at Manchester United: Just a commercial club!

Louis van Gaal, the former manager of Manchester United, has harshly criticized the club's current situation. After one of the worst seasons in the club's history, which ended with 18 defeats and a disappointing 15th place finish in the Premier League, van Gaal expressed concern about Manchester United's priorities. “This is not a football club, but a commercial club,” he explained in an interview, criticizing the excessive focus on commercial profits at the expense of sporting success. This criticism is not new; During his tenure from 2014 to 2016, he had repeatedly denounced the club's transfer policy, emphasizing that the decisions are not made by the coaches, but by the owners. Laola1 reports that...

The past season was particularly frustrating for Manchester United. Not only did the club finish last in the Premier League table, but they also lost the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur. This ends a season without a title and without European football for the coming season. “It's difficult when the manager doesn't decide on player signings,” van Gaal noted, arguing for a model in which coaches should have more influence over transfers, similar to that of Liverpool and Arne Slot. Yahoo Sports highlights that…

Criticism of transfer policy

A key part of van Gaal's criticism is the fact that the transfer policy at Manchester United is in the hands of owners who have little understanding of the club's sporting concerns. “Managers should have the final say on player transfers,” demanded the former coach. During his time at United he won 54 out of 103 games, making him one of the most controversial managers in the club's history. According to Laola1...

The topic of financial fairness in sport was addressed in a broader context. A discussion about the fair distribution of media revenues in football has become increasingly important. Studies show that the central marketing of media rights in leagues such as the Premier League can lead to uneven distribution. An example shows that an equal distribution of revenue is performance-based and the importance of media marketing increases over the years. These financial aspects touch on van Gaal's discussion of Manchester United's commercial direction. The NWB reports that…