Daley Blind is Van Gaal's surrogate son
Daley Blind was the only United player to break ranks and condemn their handling of Van Gaal's sacking. Blind said Van Gaal had "not been treated fairly over the last six months" shortly after the Dutchman's dismissal in May 2016.
Van Gaal bought Blind from Ajax for £13.8million, having coached him with the national team. When Van Gaal travels to Ajax's training ground in the film, Blind sidles over. Van Gaal beams: "Daley Blind is like a football son of mine."
"For sure," Blind replies. Blind's father, Danny, played under Van Gaal and was on his staff at the 2014 and 2022 World Cups.
Also read: Van Gaal's wife expected United sacking when Ferguson stopped greeting
Van Gaal's tears at United sacking
Despite months of credible reports Jose Mourinho would take over at United, Van Gaal was in denial and had sought assurances from the executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward. Van Gaal's wife, Truus, became frustrated her husband was oblivious to United's plans.
Van Gaal admonished his wife for "spoiling the party" after United won the FA Cup. Eventually, it dawned on Van Gaal he had managed United for the last time at Wembley.
"Later, he said, 'Hi, it's Louis. You can come home, you were right,'" Truus recalls. "His voice sounded broken, so I said, 'Alright, I'm on my way.' When I came home I could see he'd been crying. I hugged him. I had tears in my eyes too."
Rooney's revisionism
Van Gaal justifiably claimed Rooney was "over the hill" in a 2019 interview with the Guardian yet since that eye-catching quote Rooney has provided the foreword to Van Gaal's book and appears in his film as the United representative.
In a video call that took place while Rooney was manager of Derby, the United great tells Van Gaal: "I was very disappointed because I felt that everything was moving in the right direction. I felt if you had one more year we would have been successful."
United had finished fifth in the Premier League with 19 wins, 10 defeats, 66 points and 49 goals. Supporters were threatening not to renew their season tickets if there was not a change of manager and some booed Van Gaal when he lifted the FA Cup at Wembley.
Van Gaal burned through £284m on a dozen players and United recorded a streak of 11 goalless first halves at Old Trafford. Most bizarrely of all, Rooney was believed to be in favour of United appointing Ryan Giggs as Van Gaal's replacement.
Van Gaal's selective memory
"Manchester was my most difficult period," Van Gaal admits. "I came in as a manager and everything was disappointing. Most of the players in the squad were over 30. It was my job to sort it out. Rooney was also nearing 30."
The only 30-somethings in the United squad were Robin van Persie, Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher. Nemanja Vidic had already left, having agreed a pre-contract with Inter Milan and Rio Ferdinand was told after the final game of the 2013-14 season he would be released.
Patrice Evra was the sole 30-something sold on Van Gaal's watch in his first summer and the Dutchman wanted to keep the United captain. Van Gaal signed 30-somethings Victor Valdes and Bastian Schweinsteiger in 2015. Fletcher joined West Brom in January of that year and Van Persie moved to Fenerbahce in the summer. Carrick was due to be released had Van Gaal remained for a third year.
Ones that got away
Despite spending £284m, Van Gaal complains to Rooney: "It's unbelievable. I was at the richest club in the world and I could not buy the players I wanted."
United failed with moves for Mats Hummels, Sergio Ramos, Sadio Mane, Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski, among others.
Ten Hag's cameo
On his appearance at Ajax, Van Gaal witnesses Erik ten Hag addressing the squad in English, presumably due to the number of overseas players in the squad.
"Football is about winning, about titles, here at Ajax the way you do it is important," Ten Hag said. "I would invite Mr Van Gaal, please come in. He wrote a book and he wants to offer it to us. I think there are a lot of lessons in the book. It's a guidance for us as coaches and for the players as well. The floor is yours."
"Thank you, Erik," Van Gaal says in Dutch, before addressing the squad. "I'll take this in Dutch. So you know at once that if you had come here in my time you would've had to learn Dutch."
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