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Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal has doled out some harsh criticism toward Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger for his performance in the recent Champions League game against Wolfsburg, going so far as to say that the midfielder isn’t the same player he coached during his time at Bayern Munich – reports ESPN FC.
During the match against Wolfsburg, which ended in a 3-2 defeat for Manchester United, the German was hauled off for Michael Carrick due to the former not performing well enough in the crunch clash.
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Van Gaal spoke of his decision to substitute Schweinsteiger, saying:
"I have changed him and I don't change players for nothing
"I think that I can do it with other players better
"But we are all human beings. Also Bastian Schweinsteiger is a human being and he wants to play at the highest level and certainly in Germany to show his qualities, but I cannot say that he was the Schweinsteiger from my period in Munich today."
Van Gaal’s words towards Schweinsteiger were an echo by him previously, with the Dutchman stating the same after the goalless draw with West Ham last week.
Germany legend and current Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge defended Schweinsteiger and even berated Van Gaal for his comments against the player, and stated that all the midfielder needed was more time to get back to his best.
"Bastian needs a bit of time. You can't already judge him," he told reporters. "I am a bit disappointed with Louis, he should leave Bastian alone. He wanted to sign him by all means.
"Louis is not known as a Sympathikus [a pleasant person]."
Looking for sympathy from a man known as the Iron Tulip is futile, but it’s unlikely that Van Gaal has completely lost faith in his player, who helped him achieve one Bundesliga title, one DFB Pokal and one DFB Supercup as well as a place in the finals of the 2010 Champions League which was eventually won by Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan during the Dutchman’s time at Bayern.
