Louis van Gaal slams Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho for playing 'boring' football... and claims his style was much more attractive
- Former Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has slammed Jose Mourinho
- The Dutchman labelled his United successor's tactics as 'boring and defensive'
- Van Gaal was replaced by Mourinho in the dugout after two seasons in charge
- He also claimed his style of play at United was more attactive than Mourinho's
Louis van Gaal has branded Jose Mourinho's tactics at Manchester United boring.
Van Gaal, still hurt by the handling of his sacking in 2016, claimed his style of play was more attractive at Old Trafford.
'We played football that was quite all right,' Van Gaal told Fox Sports in Holland. 'But it's not football that is appreciated in England.
Former Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal said Jose Mourinho's tactics are boring
The Dutchman also claimed his style of football was more attractive than Mourinho's
'Right now, looking at United, I have to conclude Mourinho is not being criticised while it's far more boring football. What United produce now is defensive football.
'I always played attacking football. The proof is that the opposition were always parking the bus. They don't do that now because Mourinho plays so defensive.'
Mourinho was criticised for United's tepid display during defeat by rivals Manchester City on Sunday, which opened up an 11-point gap at the Premier League's summit.
Mourinho came under fire for his side's performance in their defeat by rivals Manchester City
Van Gaal said the Portuguese boss is very defensive and is surprised he isn't criticised more
Van Gaal - whose side only scored 49 league goals in his final season - insisted he does not hold a grudge against his predecessor.
'He is not an awful man,' the Dutchman added. 'I think he is a sympathetic guy. He was my assistant at Barcelona.
'I worked with him and what Mourinho did is what often happens in football.'
Van Gaal was the United manager from 2014-16 before being replaced by Mourinho
'I have more problems with the CEO, Ed Woodward. He never discussed anything with me - and you can talk about anything with me.
'With all my experience, I know the unwritten laws of football. A club has to prepare for the future.
'I can understand that and they should have approached me. Ed could talk to me but he did not.
'My wife had to find out [about Van Gaal's sacking] when she was in the lift with Woodward's family.
'They said something like: 'This is going to be awkward for Ed.' My wife had sussed them out ages ago. She warned me that something was going on.''
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