Louis van Gaal is the cog that has gone wrong at Manchester United, blasts former winger

Louis van Gaal is the broken cog at Old Trafford according to Steve Coppell

LOUIS VAN GAAL has been slammed by former Manchester United winger Steve Coppell who has described him as the broken cog at Old Trafford and labelled his substitutions puzzling.

 

United were beaten 2-1 by Bournemouth on Saturday with Van Gaal having named a make-shift side following their Champions League exit last week.

United dropped into the Europa League and dropped more points in the title race - they're now four off Arsenal.

And Coppell, who made 207 straight appearances for United, is adamant the Dutchman is at fault for United's poor form.

 

"Success in football is relatively easy," said Coppell on the BBC's Sportsweek. 

"If you spend the most money, then you buy the best players and you have the best team. 

"If that formula breaks down then a cog has gone wrong and the cog that has gone wrong appears to be the manager."

Coppell went on to claim Van Gaal needs to change his training methods and blasted his starting line-ups and substitutions.

 

Van Gaal has overseen back-to-back defeat at United to leave them sinking at home and in Europe

Van Gaal came in for criticism last week when, trailing in Germany, he brought on Nick Powell for Juan Mata.

And Coppell believes, for a manager who has spent close to £250million, United are not getting their money's worth.

"Injuries have to be taken into account but why so many injuries?" Coppell said. 

"There has been talk of training being too intensive. If the squad can't take it, then it should be eased up.

 

"The philosophy that Louis van Gaal has talked about for so long, it's difficult to distinguish what that is. The players sometimes do not really understand what he's trying to get through to them.

"Some of his substitutions are puzzling. On Saturday there were three senior players on the bench but a handful of untried and untested players were given preference. It's difficult to see what route he's going down.

"The fans have great knowledge because they watch every week. It's not pleasing on the eye. When it is effective you can justify it. When it's not effective then you look for excuses."