It’s fair to say that Louis Van Gaal still holds a small grudge against Manchester United and his former Barcelona assistant Jose Mourinho, who replaced him at Old Trafford back in the summer of 2016.
Van Gaal, who was sacked the day after winning the FA Cup, no doubt felt that former friend Mourinho stabbed him in the back, and the Dutchman has now identified the key moment that led to his predecessor suffering the same fate.
After a torrid opening four months to the current campaign Mourinho was, eventually, axed by the Red Devils in December, but Van Gaal – speaking on Ziggo Sport last night – believes he knew the Portuguese coach would be axed after he decided to sell Daley Blind back to Ajax in the summer.
“When I was in Manchester, I signed Daley Blind for £14m. Two seasons later Jose Mourinho sold him back to Ajax,” said Van Gaal – quote via twitter user @UtddJ.
“I knew then his time was up as trainer-coach, and like me, they sack him”.
Blind, who struggled for game time in his final season under Mourinho, has since gone on to enjoy a stellar season at Ajax under the tutorship of manager Erik ten Hag.
The Dutch side, with whom Van Gaal enjoyed immense success with in the 1990s, are currently fighting it out with PSV for Eredivisie glory, and last night conjured up one of the biggest shocks in recent Champions League history after stunning holders Real Madrid 4-1 at the Bernabeu.
United will be hoping to join their former player in the draw for the quarter-finals, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have a huge task tonight in Paris as they attempt to overturn a 2-0 first-leg defeat to PSG.