Van Gaal regrets rejecting Tottenham’s advances to join Manchester United in 2014

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Former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has said that moving to Tottenham instead would have been a better decision, as per the BBC.

Van Gaal joined United following the 2014 World Cup, but in March that year, the BBC reported that he had met with Daniel Levy with a view to joining Tottenham.

Speaking about the decision, van Gaal said: “Tottenham were a better selection because Manchester United were an old team and I knew I would have to transform them. They had seven players over 30. Was it the wrong choice? Maybe.”

As it turned out, van Gaal’s decision benefitted Tottenham. They went for Mauricio Pochettino instead, who has been an incredible success, while the Dutchman struggled to convince the United fans during his two-year reign.

Pochettino perhaps faces a similar conundrum at present. Spurs are a better prospect, as a club in his own image with a squad of young, hungry players all capable of playing attractive football.

But the lure of United was too strong for van Gaal; clearly a decision made out of sentiment rather than an analysis of the playing staffs on offer at both clubs.

Van Gaal’s words may convince Pochettino to remain at Spurs and remind him how lucky he is to have such an exciting squad at his disposal, having undergone the turnover of players that United are still yet to make.