Rooney claims Van Gaal’s “too honest” approach was behind Man Utd failure

Van Gaal failed to turn United’s fortunes around and was spectacularly dismissed days after claiming the 2016 FA Cup, his only silverware at the club in his two-season spell

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Wayne Rooney has lifted the lid on Louis van Gaal ‘s torrid tenure at Manchester United – and cited the Dutchman’s “too honest” approach as his biggest downfall.

After guiding the Netherlands to third at the 2014 World Cup, Van Gaal was appointed by the Red Devils as David Moyes’ successor following a disastrous season in the aftermath of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

However, the renowned coach failed to turn United’s fortunes around and was spectacularly dismissed days after claiming the 2016 FA Cup, his only silverware at the club in his two-season spell.

A bitter end saw Van Gaal accused of being “clueless” by his players and lambasted after openly criticising a young Marcus Rashford, despite initially expressing a desire to invest in United’s youth.

Club legend Rooney has now revealed that it was the former United manager’s “too honest” approach to his players which ultimately proved his biggest downfall during his doomed stint at Old Trafford.

“Fergie’s man-management was by the far the best,” Rooney told The Athletic when discussing the topic of his former bosses. “Of course you need relationships with players, but you also need that authority.

“Tactically, Van Gaal was very good, but he was too honest, if you like. He’d speak to an 18-year-old the same way you’d talk to a 35-year-old.

“It’s about getting that balance right and letting the young lads play without fear.”

Rooney worked closely with Van Gaal during the latter’s two-season reign, captaining the United side, but it appears there is no love lost between the pair.

Back in 2019, during an interview with The Guardian, Van Gaal himself shed light on his United failings, criticising the club’s structure away from the pitch, slamming the creativity of his players and claiming Rooney was past his peak.

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“I’m sorry but he was over the hill,” Van Gaal declared. “But in spite of that he was one of my best players.”

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager steered United to fourth in his first season in charge, a campaign best remembered for a humiliating 4-0 drubbing at the hands of League One outfit MK Dons and a damning 5-3 defeat to newly promoted Leicester City.

A fifth-placed finish and a failure to secure Champions League football the following year then saw Van Gaal dismissed days after the Red Devils lifted the 2016 FA Cup with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.

With Van Gaal having now called time on his career, these days it’s Rooney who finds himself in the dugout, currently defying the odds with crisis club Derby as they battle to remain in the Championship and simply stay afloat.

Having experienced a range of management styles during his playing career, Rooney revealed he is intent on setting out his own demands as manager.

“I’m very calm, actually,” he admitted. “I’m honest with the players.

“In our first meeting, I said to them, ‘You’ll have your days off to be with your families but, when you are at work, if you’re not prepared to work hard and do it like I want, you can leave now’.

“These are my demands, what I expect, whether that’s the best player, the oldest player, the youngest player, anyone.”