Mourinho’s behaviour ‘was not very chic,’ says Louis van Gaal

Louis van Gaal has questioned the manner in which Jose Mourinho took over from him at Manchester United.

Van Gaal was sacked by United in May 2016 just two days after winning the FA Cup at Wembley. The Dutchman had also guided United into fifth spot, while he managed a top-four finish in his first season.

It wasn’t enough to save the 66-year-old, who was at Anfield on Saturday to watch Mourinho’s men earn a goalless draw. And he must have left Merseyside bewildered by a dull, defensive display which was one of the reasons why United’s board decided to end Van Gaal’s two-year stay with United.

Van Gaal, who was given a great reception by United fans on Saturday, told Ziggo Sport that Mourinho is a “very sympathetic guy,” despite his reservations over the manner in which the Portuguese boss succeeded him at Old Trafford.

The two met at Anfield on Saturday and shook hands and Van Gaal was quizzed about the meeting by Ziggo Sport’s presenter: “Before the game, Jose Mourinho comes up to you, shakes your hand and calls you mister, coach, the boss and says if you want to join us before the game or after in the dressing room just come over … I didn’t know what I was witnessing.”

Van Gaal saidd: “Remarkable, eh? He is basically a very sympathetic guy. He was like that as an assistant but also as an opponent.

“He only lets himself go sometimes in front of the media and, of course, the way I suspect he took over at Manchester and my sacking went is, for me, not very chic [classy].”

Mourinho was Van Gaal’s assistant at Barcelona between 1997 and 2000.