The thing about autocrats is that they do not do anything by half measures. Much as Louis van Gaal denies he is a dictator, there is sufficient evidence to the contrary to dispute that. When the Manchester United manager’s relationship with someone breaks down, it tends to do so spectacularly.
They tend to be particularly prominent people, too. Luca Toni, Lucio, Clarence Seedorf and Rivaldo, then the reigning World Player of the Year, lost battles to be the alpha male, whether at Bayern Munich, Ajax or Barcelona.
“He doesn’t like me and I don’t like him,” said Rivaldo, who noted with satisfaction that his Brazil team won the 2002 World Cup, while Van Gaal’s Netherlands could not even qualify.
His compatriot, Sonny Anderson, went rather further, branding Van Gaal “the Hitler of Brazilian players”. There are several instances that suggest Van Gaal has a problem with Brazilians, some would say South Americans, but he has clashed with many a Dutchman, too, whether Mark van Bommel, Ronald Koeman or Johan Cruyff.
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Despite that, Van Gaal’s biographer Hugo Borst, certainly no sycophant, suggested only six of his former players had an axe to grind with the 64-year-old Dutchman. That was before he arrived at Old Trafford, when Robin van Persie, Angel di Maria, Javier Hernandez, Rafael da Silva and Victor Valdes were among those alienated and exiled.
In time, too, it may become apparent if he has enemies within the current squad. Never one of life’s diplomats, Van Gaal may be aggravating more in his old age.
But if it was the case that he had only fallen out with six players, he has a far greater battalion he has antagonised. He does not know their names or recognise their faces but it feels he has some 659 million enemies. Admittedly, United’s estimates of their global following can feel exaggerated but the vast majority want him out.
Yet it if it is remarkable how many United fans have turned on Van Gaal and how quickly. It is only seven months since he restored United to the top four, it is only seven months, too, since Chelsea were crowned champions and Jose Mourinho was sacked on Thursday.
The differences between protege and mentor are many, however: Chelsea supporters’ loyalty to Mourinho was apparent as players were booed in Saturday’s win over Sunderland. United fans’ desire for him was apparent as they chorused the Portuguese’s name. The backlash against Van Gaal has gone far beyond the extremists on social media. Some fans hoped there would be no comeback in Saturday’s defeat to Norwich City. They did not want a result which would delay Van Gaal’s dismissal.
Yet while no supporters have a divine right to either success or entertainment, that does not render them wrong. Van Gaal cannot exonerate himself by trying to downplay expectations. He is increasingly reliant on past glories. Spending £285 million (Dh1.56 billion), and being granted the leeway to reshape the United squad, deprives him of excuses.
Losing three consecutive matches, going six without a win, averaging under a goal a game over the past two months, crashing out of the Uefa Champions League: the evidence is both stacking up and damning.
The football is ponderous. The talk of a philosophy appears a smokescreen for mediocrity. In some ways, Van Gaal has done a worse job than David Moyes.
And yet, ultimately, this is not about his argument for continued employment. Minds are made up. Not necessarily in the United boardroom – it is only a few weeks ago since one senior figure described Van Gaal as a “genius” – but in the stands. His arrogance means few have sympathy for him. Mourinho’s track record makes him a preferable alternative.
And this is a fight he cannot win. Van Gaal has long seemed to deem himself bigger than anyone else at a club. He was able to drop and sell superstar players. As he will not change his style of play, he can do nothing about the views of the many. This is a relationship that has gone beyond the point of no return. He has alienated not just one or two, but hundreds of thousands, if not millions.
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