Wayne Rooney reveals the wacky world of Louis van Gaal at Man United: No eating until 90 minutes after you’ve trained, a three-course meal for the manager – and sitting outside his office like you’re at school
Wayne Rooney has revealed that former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal previously asked him how he could get players back into his side at Old Trafford ahead of his sacking, but insisted he was ‘sad’ when the Dutchman left.
Van Gaal succeeded David Moyes as United manager after the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where he had taken the Netherlands to the semi-finals and was tasked with guiding the Red Devils back to the previous success they enjoyed under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona head coach was told his three-year contract would be terminated after just two years as the club opted to sign Jose Mourinho instead.
Van Gaal guided United to the FA Cup title in 2016 but frustrated supporters with his playing style, which was criticized by many fans as boring compared to the attacking freedom they had enjoyed over the years.
Rooney was appointed club captain upon Van Gaal’s arrival and has detailed first-hand how the 72-year-old operated unitedly during his reign.
Wayne Rooney has revealed that former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal previously asked him how to get players back into his side at Old Trafford
Van Gaal was fired as United manager in 2016 after a three-year contract.
Van Gaal was fired shortly after winning the FA Cup with the club
The club finished fourth and fifth in the Premier League for two seasons under Van Gaal, as the English giants struggled to find consistency under his tenure.
The United legend revealed how Van Gaal got his team playing, telling players when they could eat after training and demanding regular one-on-one meetings with every first-team player.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, Wayne Rooney said: ‘Defensively, I thought Louis van Gaal set us up brilliantly at Manchester United and we were difficult to play against.
“In possession, I think the players with more flair struggled because he wanted us to stay in shape, which takes away the freedom of the attacking players.
‘I remember he didn’t want the midfield players to cross each other, and each player had his own part of the pitch where he could stay.
‘I thought he was a brilliant personality and there are some stories from his time at the club that I can’t tell. His methods were difficult in the way we worked off the field, but I loved his training,” he added.
Rooney revealed that he enjoyed working with Van Gaal
“Every day we would finish training and have to wait 90 minutes until we could get our food, then you have your food where one table goes up to get it at a time, while the staff table goes up last, and then you have to” He had to wait until the manager had finished eating, and he was given a three-course meal every day.
“Every day when he finished eating, he would get up and give a speech, and then we could leave.
‘Before we left he would ask to speak to players individually and he would do that in order of seniority, so you would have the players sit outside his office one by one waiting to be called up.
‘I once told him that the players were gone and that he had to change this process because it was becoming difficult.
“Towards the end, Louis asked me how he could change to get the players back in, but unfortunately it was too late,” Rooney said.
News of Van Gaal’s sacking emerged in the immediate aftermath of United’s FA Cup win over Crystal Palace at Wembley.
Rooney revealed that Van Gaal would tell players when they could eat after training
Rooney was appointed club captain when Van Gaal arrived at Manchester United after the 2014 World Cup
Jesse Lingard sealed the historic title for 10-man United in extra time and Rooney described the circumstances surrounding how the Dutchman found out he was being replaced.
Rooney continued to dig deeper and said: ‘I was sad when Louis van Gaal left Manchester United. During the 2016 FA Cup final, his wife discovered that Louis was being sacked regardless of the result.
“To be honest, he knew before the game, and afterwards when we had a winning party, that he was sitting in the corner with his family, silent, when normally he’s quite a loud and bubbly character.
‘I went to him and told him to enjoy the party because we had won the cup, but he knew he was going to be sacked but the club didn’t tell us. The next day after the party at breakfast he gave us his plans for the pre-season, so he stayed on task until the end.’