Louis van Gaal Reportedly Eyed Virtual Reality for Manchester United Training

Louis van Gaal reportedly considered the idea of using virtual-reality headsets for Manchester United training before he was dismissed by the Red Devils in May and replaced by Jose Mourinho.  

Per Jack Gaughan on MailOnline, the experimental Dutchman was preparing to introduce the VR goggles that allow "game-play analysis" in which players can review match situations through their own eyes.

Already being used at PSV Eindhoven this season, the technology can generate a virtual picture created by "already existing camera or tracking infrastructure" so players can examine a 360-degree scenario from previous matches. 

According to Van Gaal's performance analyst Max Reckers, the former United boss considered using the technology to help with his training, per Gaughan:

"

Louis is very open to new technology. He’s a very forward-thinking manager. 

The task for the club and coach is to facilitate that to an optimum level. My generation is the last generation with video.

Everyone younger knows iPads, virtual reality, FIFA... so we have to accept they don’t watch TV the way we did. I watched a game for 90 minutes; there’s not a single player who does that anymore. We have to adapt.

The ones who are good FIFA players have a small advantage with the virtual reality. It’s not so much about them being old or young, but the type of personality I think. Some really like to observe themselves, others don't.

I didn’t want to be the guy who puts in new technology without the right purpose. You have to change to the situation and your players. United have everything, specialists everywhere.

"

Van Gaal was sacked after two seasons at United during which his style of play was widely criticised as being boring and uninspired. 

Even an FA Cup triumph at the end of 2015-16 was not enough to save the 65-year-old after he failed to lead the Red Devils to a top-four finish in the Premier League.

As well as his style of play, Van Gaal's training methods were said to be disliked by United players.

PAUL ELLIS/Getty Images

Mourinho's removal of "training-pitch cameras deployed by Van Gaal to track his stars during ­sessions" was reported as a hugely popular move from the Portuguese as Old Trafford stars had disliked such "unnecessary" intrusion, per Steve Bates in the Sunday People.

It is not out of the question that Van Gaal's proposed introduction of the virtual-reality headsets could have been another unpopular move at United from the former Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Netherlands boss. 

However, per Gaughan, Van Gaal reportedly used the headsets in the lead-up to his Dutch side's run to third place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, so perhaps it could also have been a successful move. 

It may now be that Van Gaal—currently unattached—tries to introduce the technology in his next job.

Sky Sports News HQ's Kaveh Solhekol considered whether he might apply for the vacant England job, while he has reportedly been considered by Valencia, per the Mirror's Ed Malyon:

But given that Mourinho has attempted to "wipe out almost all trace of [the] former boss" at United, per Bates, virtual-reality headsets are likely now a distant prospect for the Red Devils.