Dutch footballing legend Johan Cruyff has criticised Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal for his style of play at Old Trafford.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, the former Ajax and Barcelona manager believes that the Reds should be dictating most games, and the priority should be to entertain fans while getting the results.
“He [van Gaal] doesn’t dominate. I like dominating football. Manchester doesn’t play like that,” he said.
Cruyff, who has a notoriously strained relationship with van Gaal, was also asked that if his compatriot was too cautious with his tactics. He responded:
“I don’t think so, but it’s strange that against strong teams they’ve got good results and with weak teams they’ve had difficulties. That’s a strange situation.”
“But the results I think are second. The game is first. Money is very important but always second. In England they play different, everybody has their own style. A mix of styles is always good.”
“The most important part are the fans, that people going home are happy. It’s their time off and you should give them something to enjoy.”
Cruyff, of course, is known as the most famous exponent of Total Football, synonymous with Dutch football, and well as creating the beginnings of what would later be known as tiki-taka during his spell with Barcelona. However, he and van Gaal have not seen eye to eye for the best part of four decades.
And they have completely differing beliefs on how the game should be played. Cruyff once said this: “van Gaal has a good vision of football but it is not mine. He wants to gel winning teams and has a militaristic way of working with his tactics. I don’t. I want individuals to think for themselves.”
In conclusion, don’t expect van Gaal to listen to Cruyff’s advice anytime soon.
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