Louis van Gaal has once again been in the headlines this week for talking about Manchester United - but his comments are nothing new.
The ex-Red Devils boss, who spent two seasons at Old Trafford before infamously getting the boot after winning the FA Cup in 2016, has labelled his former employers as a "commercial club" in a warning to Erik ten Hag, tipped to become United's next manager at the end of this season.
His verdict - given in typically outspoken fashion when speaking about his time in Manchester - has been out there for a long time, though, having initially bemoaned the Red Devils' commercial duties while on their pre-season tour of the United States eight years ago, his first period as boss.
Van Gaal, now in charge of the Netherlands for a second time, was asked at a news conference whether United's activities off the pitch were impinging on their football and he bluntly replied: "More or less, yes, because we have to prepare the season and when you have a lot of commercial activities also for the players.
"You have to travel distances, you have to fly a lot, you have also jet lag, and that is not very positive for a good preparation. But the tour was already arranged so I have to adapt, I shall adapt." The Dutchman's team managed to do just that and balance their commitments, winning all six friendlies before a laboured fourth-place finish in the Premier League that term.
Fast forward to 2022 and Van Gaal still believes the same, sending Ajax manager Ten Hag a message during the ongoing international break. "Erik ten Hag is a great coach and that is always good for Manchester United," the 70-year-old declared ahead of Tuesday's friendly between his current side and rivals Germany.
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"But Manchester United are a commercial club, so it's a difficult choice for a coach. He would be better going to a football club. I'm not going to advise him, he'll call me himself.
"But he must choose a football club and not a commercial club." His compatriot may well be giving Van Gaal a call in the coming weeks, having been interviewed for the job by Red Devils officials.
However, United have stressed that a number of options are being considered, reportedly shortlisting Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique and Julen Lopetegui. If any of those candidates want an insight into the inner workings of Old Trafford, one of their predecessors evidently has plenty to say.
Speaking to BBC Sport in 2019, Van Gaal blasted United's structure and claimed Sir Alex Ferguson even agreed with some of his issues.
"At the moment there is a structure with a scouting division and above that is someone at [recently-departed executive vice-chairman Ed] Woodward 's right hand," the ex- Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager explained. "The structure is not so bad but the right hand has to be a technical director with a football view, not somebody with a banker's role. Unfortunately, we are talking about a commercial club, not a football club. I spoke to Ferguson about this and in his last years, he also had problems with it."
So, should we - and, crucially, Ten Hag - listen to Van Gaal? He certainly think so. "Everybody thinks I am a narcissist. I am actually the opposite of that," Van Gaal added. "The media likes me because I give honest answers. How many people in football give honest answers? I don't lie. Always the truth. OK, maybe my truth. But it is the truth."
