Why didn't he talk to Ryan Giggs? Man Utd boss Louis van Gaal hits back at Paul Scholes



Louis van Gaal would rather Scholes made his criticisms in person



LOUIS VAN GAAL has hit back at Paul Scholes’ criticism of his “risk-free” tactics.

 

The Manchester United manager was dismissive of the former midfielder’s scathing assessment that his team lack creativity.

He made it clear he would have more respect for Scholes if he made his points face to face to him, his assistant Ryan Giggs – who is a close friend of Scholes - or United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward rather than to the media outlets who pay him.

Van Gaal said: “You have a fantastic expression for that in England: 'sticks and stones can break my bones, but names [words] will never hurt me.

 

“He [Scholes] doesn't have the responsibility [of being manager], so he can say everything.

“Why he is saying something? For the benefit of the club or the benefit of himself?

“I don't want to defend myself because I cannot defend, because he is a legend and he has a lot of resonance, so I hear.

 

United were knocked out of the Capital One Cup on penalties after their second consecutive 0-0

“But I think when you are a legend, you have to speak with the manager or his friend, Ryan Giggs, or Ed Woodward, but not this way, because he will be paid by the BBC or Sky.

“When Scholes thinks I should go, then I go. But he is not the man with responsibility for that decision - he is not [one of] the Glazers or Ed Woodward.”

United have scored only four goals in their last five games, including two successive 0-0 home draws against Manchester City and Middlesbrough, who knocked them out of the Capital One Cup after a penalty shoot-out on Wednesday.

 

But Van Gaal pointed to the fact that Old Trafford is invariably sold out and the applause of the fans indicate the bulk of their followers believe progress is being made under his management.

“It's also an aspect, that you play for the fans, therefore I say to you that the stadium is still full and that, in the Capital One Cup, is unbelievable. That is not normal, so they like the way we have played.

“I think Manchester United is always entertaining. I read that our 0-0 draw with Middlesbrough was boring, but I don't think there are more spectators in another stadium than this ground.

“In spite of the defeat, when we were going to our dressing room, they were applauding. I have said that also last year, once or twice.

“If we had scored, nothing would have happened. Now we are out of the cup, you know the next day is going to be like that. But when you analyse it, last season we were already out to MK Dons, now we were nearly in the quarter-finals.”

 

Scholes (left) is best known these days for his television punditry

Van Gaal defended his decision to make nine changes for the midweek Cup game because of United’s heavy fixture schedule – they follow tomorrow’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace with a vital Champions League home game against CSKA Moscow on Tuesday.

He added: “I have to rotate. I think all the managers are agreed about that, because they are all doing it. And when you have compare MK Dons with Middlesbrough, there is a difference.

“Middlesbrough beat Manchester City 2-0 [in the FA Cup] last season. We drew 0-0 and we could have won this game, we could have lost it also, because Middlesbrough also had a few chances. But you know as a coach of Manchester United if you lose you are going to have a hard time.

“I know when we shall lose and lose and lose, I shall be finished, but I shall do everything for this club because, as I have already said, this club is unbelievable.”

To compound Van Gaal's problems, Memphis Depay and James Wilson have both been ruled out of the trip to Selhurst Park. They joined Antonio Valencia, Luke Shaw and Paddy McNair on the injury list.