Andrei Kanchelskis Slams Louis Van Gaal's Manchester United 'Robots'

The list of former Manchester United players criticising manager Louis van Gaal has grown after ex-winger Andrei Kanchelskis described the Dutchman's players as performing "like robots."

A 0-0 result at Crystal Palace on Saturday secured United's third consecutive 0-0 draw and their fourth stalemate in succession, urging Kanchelskis to join Paul Scholes in bashing Van Gaal's tactics, per Sport Express (h/t Mirror's Samuel Luckhurst):

"

Van Gaal is too pragmatic, his footballers play like robots. They are kept within a strict framework, they are not allowed to improvise, contrary to what Ferguson allowed us to do. Van Gaal, of course, is a good coach but, in my opinion, he is not for Manchester United. I’m looking at his game for the second season now. 

He says that the transformation is going on, but I still couldn’t understand what he is looking for. There is an impression that he doesn’t know what he wants. No creative players, no wingers. Nobody could serve Wayne Rooney. The current Manchester is not the same as it was under Ferguson.

"

It's unfortunate that every manager following in Sir Alex Ferguson's wake should be held up to the Scot's impossibly high standards. Perhaps the hard truth is the disappointments witnessed under the reigns of David Moyes and Van Gaal have only highlighted what a unique manager Ferguson was.

It's a point Van Gaal himself touched upon prior to Wednesday's return fixture against CSKA Moscow this week, where he told BT Sport the Theatre of Dreams hasn't always been in a dream-like state:

"

"Old Trafford was not always the Theatre of Dreams!" @ManUtd boss Louis van Gaal hits back at his critics again. https://t.co/cPuQ8dCNYW

— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) November 3, 2015"

The Red Devils have made improvements under Van Gaal compared to when they were under the command of predecessor Moyes, who had the most precarious job of attempting to immediately succeed Ferguson.

Perhaps it's no coincidence things are getting gradually better the further the club ebbs away from Ferguson's era—or the more managers they employ following his 2013 exit—at least according to table position. Luckhurst is among those who believe on-pitch performance has been uninspired, to say the least:

For a club like United to go three consecutive matches without a goal is almost unheard of, the club that once typified the golden 1990s and went on to enjoy a period of domestic dominance in the 2000s.

United now sit fourth in the Premier League and are just four points off the top, but the attractive football they were once so renowned for is nowhere to be seen. Van Gaal responded to a recent barb from club legend Scholes, where he stated pressure is to be expected in his position, per the Mirror's Simon Mullock:

"

Other teams want to kill Manchester United because it is the biggest club on Earth. That is a compliment for Manchester United. It is hard. But I have never been ­disappointed with my players. Maybe there was one match last season when I was disappointed with my players and the only match I have been disappointed with this season was in the first 20 minutes against Arsenal.

We were 3-0 down and normally you will lose by six or seven because you are Manchester United and your opponent wants to kill you. I have seen matches under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson when that happened. But at Arsenal I saw my team come out of the s--t.

"

Kanchelskis joins those who would see the English giants get back to their former ways of delighting fans on a weekly basis, as opposed to what appears the more recent strategy of chasing results first and entertainment second.

The Independent's Darren Richman was eager to highlight the supporters' plight as a critical factor in United's priorities, too, considering how expensive it can be to attend matches:

Kanchelskis made 99 appearances for United, winning two Premier League titles and claiming one FA Cup triumph in 1994, a period when the club was in its pomp and playing some of the best football in Europe.

The former winger would see his old side return to those glory days, but he doesn't appear hopeful of that success being brought about as long as Van Gaal is the one directing their cause.