Louis van Gaal Would Only Manage Again to 'Get One over on Manchester United'

Former Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has said he'd only come out of retirement if he were given the opportunity to "get one over" on his old team by taking charge of one of their rivals.  

According to the Mirror, he told De Telegraaf: "I will probably not manage a club anymore. I would make one exception—if a big English club comes for me, then I would do it. Because then I can get the chance to get one over on Manchester United."

Dutch football expert Priya Ramesh was unsure if the comments were intended as a joke:

"

hard to gauge from the interview as to whether he was being entirely serious or not.. (though neither interpretation would be entirely surprising)

— Priya Ramesh (@Priya8Ramesh) December 18, 2017"

The 66-year-old has not managed since he was sacked by United last year two days after winning the FA Cup.

Van Gaal was two years into a three-year deal at Old Trafford, having guided the Red Devils to fourth in his first season and fifth in his second, missing out on the UEFA Champions League to Manchester City on goal difference.

The Dutchman is unhappy with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward for approaching his successor, Jose Mourinho, while he was still at the club. He added: "Woodward should have come to me, and we could have worked on that. I have nothing against Jose."

Mourinho was Van Gaal's assistant at Barcelona, whom he managed from 1997 to 2000.

It did not stop the latter from criticising the former's approach at Old Trafford since taking charge, though:

Football writer Liam Canning found amusement in his comments:

"

Louis van Gaal criticising José Mourinho for playing ‘boring football’ is the funniest thing I’ve read this year. Fair play.

— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) December 12, 2017"

The Red Devils had a reasonable season in Van Gaal's first year—at least compared to David Moyes' year in charge, in which they finished seventh—as they scored 62 goals and finished in the top four.

However, a dire second campaign saw them muster just 49 goals as they failed to score in 10 Premier League matches, and they never managed more than three in a single league game.

United were somewhat improved last year as they scored 54 goals, but they were held to a draw in 15 Premier League matches, and those cracks were papered over by winning the EFL Cup and the UEFA Europa League.

While United are 11 points back on league leaders Manchester City and will be disappointed by their performances in a number of big games this season, the Red Devils have been considerably better on the whole.

ESPN's Alex Shaw demonstrated one way in which they have improved:

"

To highlight how rubbish United were last season and how much (despite how it seems) things have improved:

2016-17: 8 home wins all season
2017-18: 8 home wins so far

— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawESPN) December 14, 2017"

United have also scored four goals in eight separate matches in all competitions this season, so it's clear they've been more exciting than they were under Van Gaal, even if there's still plenty of room for them to improve.

Despite his FA Cup win and impressive trophy cabinet, including the UEFA Champions League and league titles from the Netherlands, Spain and Germany, offers are unlikely to be forthcoming for the Dutchman from the Premier League after his uninspired second season at Old Trafford.

Regardless, it seems he's still unhappy at the circumstances surrounding his exit from the club.