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devil's fury

Louis van Gaal slams Manchester United board for putting ‘head in a noose’ with ‘humiliating’ sacking and public pursuit of Jose Mourinho undermining final six months

Dutchman was dismissed in acrimonious circumstances just hours after leading Red Devils to FA Cup glory in 2016

LOUIS VAN GAAL has slammed Manchester United over his "humiliating" sacking and described it as the "biggest disappointment of my life".

The Dutchman was dismissed just hours after leading the Red Devils to FA Cup glory over Crystal Palace in 2016 — the first major trophy of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

 Louis van Gaal has lashed out at the Manchester United board over 2016 sacking
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Louis van Gaal has lashed out at the Manchester United board over 2016 sackingCredit: Reuters
 Louis van Gaal poses with Sir Alex Ferguson and FA Cup trophy in 2016
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Louis van Gaal poses with Sir Alex Ferguson and FA Cup trophy in 2016Credit: Getty

And he admits his treatment by the United board left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Van Gaal told AD: “United put my head in a noose and I was publicly placed on the gallows.

“The pressure was enormous with my head in the noose and they went right behind my back.

“I think it was all orchestrated like a film and it was done very much behind my back right from January."

The former Ajax and Barcelona boss believes a combination of criticism from the likes of Gary Neville and Paul Scholes and the sacking of Jose Mourinho undermined his final six months in charge.

He added: “Suddenly former players started to yap in the media that we were playing boring football and Mourinho's sacking made it very attractive for everyone to keep bashing me."

 Louis van Gaal was replaced by former assistant at Barcelona Jose Mourinho
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Louis van Gaal was replaced by former assistant at Barcelona Jose MourinhoCredit: Getty
 Louis van Gaal poses with new signings ahead of final season at Manchester United
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Louis van Gaal poses with new signings ahead of final season at Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
 Louis van Gaal with Ajax players during 1996 Champions League final
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Louis van Gaal with Ajax players during 1996 Champions League finalCredit: PA:Empics Sport

Van Gaal insists he would have been happy to pave the way for his former assistant at Barcelona, had he been aware of United's interest.

And he reveals he only wanted to stay for two years, with the club wanting him to sign on for three.

He admitted: “I do understand that choice of United to get Mourinho.

“I never wanted more than two years anyway — Man United wanted three years.

 Paul Scholes was a major critic of Louis van Gaal during Dutchman's two-year tenure
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Paul Scholes was a major critic of Louis van Gaal during Dutchman's two-year tenureCredit: PA:Press Association

“Suddenly, Mourinho was out after one-and-a-half years of my contract and I knew United wanted him one day.

“United did not discuss this with me.

"If they had come to me with the Mourinho plan then I could have said, 'OK, let's give it everything for the last six months, complete commitment to each other and the team and then Jose Mourinho can take over."

 Louis van Gaal was often criticised for his style of football while at Old Trafford
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Louis van Gaal was often criticised for his style of football while at Old TraffordCredit: PA:Press Association
 Jose Mourinho was swooped on just days after FA Cup final success in 2016
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Jose Mourinho was swooped on just days after FA Cup final success in 2016Credit: AFP

LVG also insisted  that finding out he was being sacked via the media was a bitter pill to swallow.

And he made certain to force United into paying as much as possible to dismiss him.

He blasted: “They told me only after it was leaked out and it was the biggest disappointment of my life.

“They could have saved the last year of my salary by doing that but after what happened I made them pay every penny.”

 Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal ahead of 2010 Champions League final
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Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal ahead of 2010 Champions League finalCredit: AFP

 

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