Having been criticised as "the worst coach" of Angel Di Maria's career following his spell at Manchester United, Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal has responded to the Argentine attacker ahead of their 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-final.
Pele Responds To Mbappe Breaking His WC Record
On Friday night, an iconic World Cup rivalry will be reignited when the Dutch take on Argentina in the quarter-finals of the biggest football spectacle in the world.
The encounter, however, has an interesting sub-plot as Juventus attacker Di Maria will be playing against his former manager Van Gaal.
They worked together at Old Trafford during the 2014/15 season, and with the Argentine's time in the Premier League being largely underwhelming, he has previously attributed his lacklustre spell with the Red Devils to the Dutchman's coaching methods.
Ahead of the crunch World Cup tie, Van Gaal took the time to give a humorous response to Di Maria.
"The fact he would refer to me as the worst trainer, he is one of the only players to have said that," he said in a pre-match presser, as per the Daily Mirror.
"It's usually the other way round. It is sad, I don't like that Angel said that but it's a pity… but it's the way it is.
"A head coach has to take decisions that don't always end well."
Sitting next to Memphis Depay during the press conference, a forward who also played under the 71-year-old while he was in England, Van Gaal used his star striker in his punchline.
"But the same happened to Memphis," he added.
"I didn't pick him at United – and now we want to kiss each other mouth-to-mouth.
"We're not going to do that now, but there you go, that's how things happen.
"I didn't field Memphis at the time but a head coach doesn't do this without reason."
PSG Make Decision On Free Agent Ronaldo
Di Maria left United just one season after the club broke the British transfer record to sign him, and went on to flourish at Paris Saint-Germain.
In 2019. he put the blame squarely on Van Gaal for his unsuccessful tenure with the record Premier League champions.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
WATCH VIDEO:
