I do nothing at United, but I earn a lot: Van Gaal

LONDON — Louis van Gaal does “nothing” as Manchester United manager but earns a lot because the most important job for a top-level coach is delegating responsibilities to his staff.

Speaking at the League Managers Association annual management conference on Wednesday, Van Gaal touched upon his philosophy, describing himself as an innovator who pioneered modern coaching methods.

“Feedback is very important ... But I have to say that because when I don’t say that then I’m arrogant,” Van Gaal was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph.

“I am also an innovator and I have changed a lot in terms of preparing for games. I was the first coach who was with a notebook. Now everybody is with a notebook. I was the first coach who used video.

“I’m from a time where you (the manager) did everything. Now I’m the manager and I have a sports science department, I have a scouting department, I have a medical department, I have assistant managers, I have assistant coaches. I don’t do anything ... nothing! I delegate. I delegate and I earn a lot of money.”

Former United midfielder Paul Scholes has been one of Van Gaal’s most vocal critics this season, accusing the team of lacking creativity and playing “boring” football.

United are fourth in the English Premier League table, two points adrift of leaders Manchester City, and went through a run of three back-to-back goalless draws in October.

The Red Devils have scored fewer league goals (17) than any side in the top six but also boast the meanest defence, having conceded just eight in the league.

Van Gaal defended himself against claims that his team cannot play attacking football, citing his time in charge of Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam as proof that his teams learn how to attack once they absorb the basic tenets of his philosophy.

“We (Ajax) won everything with very attacking football. I don’t say it too much because otherwise Mr Scholes will be very angry!” the Dutchman said with a laugh.

“When you see my press conferences, I’m discussing a lot my philosophy. It takes always a little bit of time to transfer the message. I’m training in the brain — a lot of things in the brain — because football is not a sport of legs, it is a sport of brain, and tactics. So that takes a lot of time.”

With Anthony Martial nursing a foot injury, Van Gaal will hand fellow Dutchman Memphis Depay a rare start against Watford tomorrow. Depay has struggled to impress in the Premier League since completing a £25 million (S$54 million) move from PSV Eindhoven in the summer, but Van Gaal has insisted that the 21-year-old is a huge talent who will justify his price tag at Old Trafford.

The winger has been unable to live up to the hype surrounding the iconic No. 7 shirt, though, having replaced Angel di Maria in that jersey at the start of the season.

But with Depay following the likes of Di Maria, Antonio Valencia and Michael Owen in being unable to shine in the No 7 shirt, former United star David Beckham insists that the only way to approach the number is to embrace it and be motivated by previous incumbents, such as himself, Eric Cantona and Bryan Robson.

“When you get given the No 7 shirt at United, it doesn’t matter who has worn it in the past or what that player has achieved in the past,” Beckham said. “At the end of the day, it is a special shirt to wear but I don’t think personally that it comes with any pressure. It always was an inspiration for me, but it was never my shirt. It was George Best’s, Bryan Robson’s, Eric Cantona’s.

“The only reason I wanted to wear the No 7 shirt was because of these players. I didn’t see it as an intimidation, I saw it as a honour.” AGENCIES