Man of the Match in the Champions League final and former World Cup champion During his illustrious career, Angel Di Maria chose his least favourite manager. During his playing career, the Argentine played for teams like Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus, winning nearly every trophy in the sport.
His best moment may have occurred in 2014, when he led Real Madrid to their tenth European championship, which Madrid supporters affectionately call “La Decima.” The winger was sent to Manchester United for £59.7 million despite his outstanding performance in the championship game, as the Red Devils attempted to recover from a challenging debut season under Sir Alex Ferguson. But the 36-year-old encountered the worst coach he has ever worked with at Old Trafford.
Di Maria Labels Louis van Gaal His Worst Manager
There’s no love lost between the pair
Di Maria stated unequivocally in an interview with ESPN Argentina that Louis van Gaal is the worst manager he has ever worked under. After a season together in Manchester, Di Maria’s relationship with the Dutchman rapidly soured, even if he had a great start to life in England.
“You can be certain that Van Gaal is the worst manager. I’ll answer that for you immediately in case you were unsure.”
More details were not provided, but given that Di Maria was flogged within a year of joining the English powerhouses after moving to the French city in 2015, it’s not the most shocking response. Van Gaal has already voiced his opinion on the subject, claiming that the player—who will go down as one of Manchester United’s worst acquisitions—could not cope with the demands of the Premier League and that he attempted to use him in every position in the final third:
“Di Maria claims that I was at fault. I used him in all offensive positions. You can verify that. I was never persuaded by him in any of those ways. The Premier League’s constant pressure on the ball was too much for him to handle. That was his issue.
Di Maria Selects His Favourite Managers
The Argentine name-dropped two fellow countrymen
The attacker, on the other hand, named two coaches he collaborated with while playing for the Argentina national team as his favourites:
“[Lionel] Scaloni absolutely. His staff, his relationship with the players, and his game management skills make him an excellent coach in every way. It is flawless. He is, in my opinion, among the best.
“And then Alejandro [Sabella].” I was greatly influenced by this management. With him, I learnt a lot.
In 2014, Di Maria advanced to the World Cup final under Sabella but was defeated by Germany. With Scaloni in charge, he would go even further eight years later, scoring in the 2022 final and winning the renowned trophy after a thrilling penalty shootout triumph over France in Qatar.
xz
