Louis van Gaal: How to Destroy a World Class Goalkeeper 101
Louis Van Gaal has reportedly taken another step to destroy Victor Valdes’ nightmare United career by making him adhere to a set of humiliating rules and leaving him out of the clubs official squad photo.
Van Gaal has decided that the former Barcelona and Spain goalkeeper should be kept completely separate from the senior squad and has insisted that he trains at opposite times to the first team squad.
This means that Valdes is often left to train on his own in the afternoon once the squad have finished their morning training or vice versa when the first team are training in the afternoon.
It is understood that Van Gaal hasn’t even spoken to Valdes directly about the new set up but instead left it to other members of his coaching staff to break the news.
With Valdes understandably feeling like he is no longer part of the squad Van Gaal decided to put the final nail in the coffin and leave him out of the squad photo earlier this week.
The landscape didn’t always look so bleak for Valdes though, when he first signed for Manchester United on a free transfer last season it looked like an excellent piece of business from United. They had secured a World Class backup for David De Gea with an astonishing amount of experience at no cost!
The honeymoon period however was short lived, Valdes becoming one of the first victims to Van Gaal’s no compromise management style.
Having only played twice for the first team squad and numerous times for the reserves and under 21’s Van Gaal released a public statement in July that Valdes refused to follow the clubs philosophy having refused to play for the reserves and would be sold in the summer.
“He is not selected because he doesn’t follow our philosophy and there is no place for that one player,” Van Gaal said.
“When you are not willing to follow the principles of the philosophy, then there is only one way and that is out.” Van Gaal added.
Valdes however didn’t seem to agree with Van Gaal’s assessment taking to social media to question his comment showing him with the U21’s and Reserves.
With David De Gea looking set to leave for Real Madrid, many thought Valdes would have been a suitable replacement. Van Gaal however was sure of his decision and Valdes was left out of the United pre-season squad that went on tour to America.
Upon returning to Manchester Van Gaal made sure Valdes knew where he stood by signing Sergio Romero as backup for De Gea. This left Valdes sat in the stands come the start of the season – alongside countryman De Gea who was keen to tie up a deal with Real Madrid which spectacularly back fired – with Sam Johnstone on the bench instead.
Valdes thought his nightmare was soon to end when it looked like a move to Turkish side Besiktas had come to his rescue, but unfortunately that move fell through along with De Gea’s leaving Valdes well down the pecking order at Old Trafford and clearly out of favour with the Dutch manager.