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09th Apr 2017

Morgan Schneiderlin has slammed Louis van Gaal’s managerial style

"This first year with Louis Van Gaal sticks in the throat"

Robert Redmond

Morgan Schneiderlin appears to blame Louis van Gaal for his unsuccessful spell at Manchester United.

Schneiderlin moved to Old Trafford from Southampton in July 2015 for £24m and was a regular under the former United manager last season.

The French midfielder had impressed for the Saints and United fans hoped he would develop into a dominant player in the team’s engine room.

However, it didn’t work out.

Jose Mourinho, Van Gaal’s successor as manager, rarely used Schneiderlin, and allowed him to join Everton in January for £20m.

Yet, despite Mourinho moving him on, and Van Gaal regularly selecting him, Schneiderlin appears to blame the later for his unproductive spell at United.

The 27-year-old has said Van Gaal’s tactical instructions were restrictive, unhelpful and ultimately made him feel like a ‘robot’.

It doesn’t sound like he enjoyed playing under the Dutchman.

“This first year with Louis Van Gaal sticks in the throat,” Schneiderlin told French media outlet L’Equipe.

“I didn’t take any pleasure on the pitch. He left me little freedom in my game, even though I have quite a lot of experience in the Premier League.

“With him, I felt like I was playing as a robot. They said to me: ‘You must never go and get the ball in this part of the pitch, you must not do this, that’

“These instructions may have disturbed me a little.

“When a player wonders during a game: ‘But what does the coach want me to do in this situation?’  he begins to be less efficient.

“Especially at Manchester United, in a context where all matches are scrutinised by the media and where one can quickly be criticised from everywhere.”

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