On Friday, Manchester United Manager Louis van Gaal hit back at Paul Scholes for his “boring” comment:
“Why he is saying something? For the benefit of the club or the benefit of himself? …When Scholes thinks I should go, then I go. But he is not a responsible man, he is not the Glazers or Ed Woodward.”
Van Gaal even used the “sticks and stones” saying in his remarks. (You can can watch the video at this link, it’s funny).
Today, Van Gaal took a very different approach. He says he is not phased by the criticism leveled upon him by Scholes and Gary Neville in their new roles as pundits.
“We don’t discuss this subject because it is not interesting for me,” Van Gaal told the Mail.
“You know as a manager of Manchester United, or another big club, that it shall always be like that.
“I think it is not only the friends of Ryan Giggs, it is all the ex-players that are doing that. I think the ex-players were never managers that are giving commentary, they are ex-players and that is a different profession.”
Scholes, the legendary former Red Devils midfielder and member of the famed “Class of ’92” has been heavily critical of Van Gaal over the style, tactics and pacing of the team. In Scholes’ opinion, they’ve been a dull team to watch lately. United is currently riding a 325 minutes scoreless streak across all competitions.
As Neville has joined Scholes in criticizing Van Gaal’s direction, you have to wonder what kind of potential strain this might put on the Dutchman’s #2, Ryan Giggs if this keeps up.
Scholes and Neville remain close friends with Giggs who was also a member of the Class of ’92
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous television and radio talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.