Louis Van Gaal Manchester United Rule Slammed by Michael Owen, Raymond Verheijen

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has been criticised by a Dutch fitness coach and a former Red Devils player—with Raymond Verheijen and Michael Owen both making their feelings known about the team's injury list.

Owen has been specifically critical of Van Gaal's conditioning of his squad, saying it has been a "really poor season" for LvG and directing the blame fully at the manager's door.

His comments came during an appearance on BT Sport as the panel discussed Van Gaal's season so far, with Owen adding United have "no say [in the title race]."

Colin Harvey of the Daily Star reported on Verheijen's comments to the BBC—where the fitness coach proclaimed Van Gaal's methods were the sole reason for his squad's pandemic injury crisis:

"

I think this was predictable. It's not a coincidence. I think the strength of Louis van Gaal has also been shown to be his weakness. I think this was avoidable. As an assistant I've seen with my own eyes that he has the ability, because he is a great tactical teacher, to improve a team and players within one session.

He is extremely intelligent, extremely knowledgeable, but also very intense. That's what you have heard Manchester United's players saying all the time this season. This intense style of training and coaching is his strength, but also his weakness in terms of injuries.

[...] You saw this pattern for the first time when he was coaching at Ajax. It happened at Barcelona, it happened at Bayern Munich and now it's happening at Manchester United. It's the same pattern.

"

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Some may find both Owen's and Verheijen's comments strange considering United are up to fourth and playing their best football for well over a year.

Owen's comments are especially baffling. He cites Arsenal as a team who in the past "never suffered injuries," but the Gunners are themselves in the middle of a huge injury crisis now—under the same Arsene Wenger regime that Owen once played against.

Verheijen's statement is more insightful, joining the dots between the clubs LvG has coached. 

United have now suffered a staggering 41 injuries since Van Gaal took over, per 101 Great Goals, with the players bursting to get out of the treatment centre at Carrington.

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But despite the injuries, Van Gaal has managed to find a way to get the team in tactical shape, if not yet a physical one.

United beat Stoke on Tuesday night to record their fourth straight win in the Premier League, allowing them to sit in the Champions League positions going into the festive period.

United fans have taken to Van Gaal and his gregarious style, and there is a real feeling of unity behind his methods and philosophy. The manager has been on the charm offensive from day one, highlighted by Bleacher Report's Rob Dawson after United's last match:

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After a season of heartbreak for the Red Devils following the exit of Sir Alex Ferguson, United fans are contented with their current state—with a lowering of expectations coming after David Moyes' failed tenure.

Taking United back to the top is very much a long-term project, and it was clear last year that a number of professionals needed to leave the club.

That has now happened, and LvG is clearing the decks. It is also worth noting that last season United suffered an injury crisis long before Van Gaal's appearance, and the team would often lose steam before the end of matches: A factor that lost United many home games and claimed Moyes' job.

The opening gambit to the season was disappointing for Van Gaal and his team, but with the Dutch manager having no previous Premier League experience, transitional issues were always going to surface.