5) Louis van Gaal – Angel di Maria
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Months after a man-of-the-match performance in the UEFA Champions League final with Real Madrid and guiding Argentina to the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Manchester United parted with a record £59.7 million to sign Angel di Maria. When he scored 3 goals and assisted 3 goals in his opening 5 games, it looked like Louis van Gaal had a superstar to build his side around.
However, what followed was quite pitiful, as Di Maria had his confidence shaken as he struggled to the Dutchman’s famed ‘philosophy, with Van Gaal admitting as much, saying “Some players cannot adapt to the team philosophy. That you cannot know in advance. You have to see that.”
Di Maria suffered the ignominy of being benched with Ashley Young preferred, and then moved to Paris Saint-German in the summer. Di Maria later reflected on the move, saying “I didn’t get on very well with the coach, so I think the decision to join Paris was the best solution.”
Di Maria pinpointed Van Gaal’s philosophy and a change in position as reasons for his leaving, saying “Van Gaal has his philosophy and one of the things that made me want to leave is that. It is difficult to adapt to Van Gaal. I had a couple of rows with him. I started well and after that I got injured.Things didn't go well for me and Van Gaal changed my position.”
Given Manchester United’s failings this season, coupled with Di Maria’s stunning form for PSG, it seems rather obvious that were Louis van Gaal to put his philosophy aside, Di Maria could fire Manchester United to the summit of the Premier League next season.
