“At the moment there is a structure with a scouting division and above that is someone at Woodward’s right hand. The structure is not so bad but the right hand has to be a technical director with a football view, not somebody with a banker’s role. Unfortunately, we are talking about a commercial club, not a football club. I spoke to Ferguson about this and in his last years, he also had problems with it.”
Van Gaal was thought to have been offered the chance to become Tottenham manager before Mauricio Pochettino’s appointment in 2014 and the Dutchman believes, in hindsight, it may have been a better fit for him than United. Van Gaal says he is still sore about his treatment by Woodward. "What I don't like is Woodward contacting my successor [Mourinho], knowing in his mind he will replace me and he keeps his mouth shut for six months,” he said. “To win the FA Cup when, for six months, the media has a noose round my neck, is my biggest achievement.”
Solskjaer has won plaudits for restoring an attacking mindset at United after the dour, defensive approaches adopted by Van Gaal and Mourinho, who replaced the Dutchman in 2016. But Van Gaal refutes any suggestion that Solskjaer, whom United players and staff believe is close to being confirmed on a permanent basis, is playing a superior, more entertaining brand of football.
“The coach after me [Mourinho] changed to park-the-bus tactics and played on the counter,” he said. “Now there is another coach who parks the bus and plays on the counter. The main difference between Mourinho and Solskjaer is that Solskjaer is winning.”