Van Gaal warns Erik Ten Haag off the Manchester United job

  Louis Van Gaal is that ex that just won't move on! He has warned off Erik Ten Haag from the Manchester United job after the latter...

 

Louis Van Gaal is that ex that just won't move on! He has warned off Erik Ten Haag from the Manchester United job after the latter's seemingly successful interview with the Old Trafford board. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Have you met a bitter ex before? Those ones that act like they don’t miss you but they end up telling anyone and everyone never to cross your path? Ladies and gentlemen, meet Louis Van Gaal… Manchester United’s unapologetic bitter ex.

Manchester United need a new manager, that’s probably the most popular news in the world of football, but after their fans must have started celebrating the imminent arrival of Ajax head coach, Erik Ten Haag, their former manager has come out to warn his kinsman not to risk the move.

Ten Haag was interviewed for the permanent manager role at Old Trafford last week and it was reported to be a successful one with the Dutchman leading other candidates, with La Roja head coach Luis Henrique said to be right behind him on the pecking order.

"I think Ten Hag is a great coach; I said that multiple times," Van Gaal said at a news conference Monday. "A great coach is good for Man United. But Man United is a commercial club. Those are difficult choices for a coach. As a coach, you should prefer a football club."

Van Gaal, who returned as Netherlands coach last year, was critical of United's preseason tour plans during his first summer in charge in 2014, complaining there was too much focus on making money and not enough on preparing the players for the new season.

"We have to prepare the season and when you have commercial activities and dreadful distances -- having to fly a lot and the jet lag -- it is not positive for a good preparation," he said at the time.

Mauricio Pochettino and Sevilla coach, Julien Lopetegui are the other two names on the four man shortlist for the Old Trafford job and while Ten Haag leads the race, the club will still listen to the other two but Van Gaal has warned his compatriot off the job.

"I won't accompany his career," Van Gaal added. "If he wants that, he will call me. We have conversations with each other. He should chose a football club, not a commercial club."