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Cape Town - According to reports, Netherlands head coach Louis van Gaal could be confirmed as David Moyes' successor at Manchester United early next week, if not over the weekend.
However, former Germany midfielder Mehmet Scholl, who worked with Van Gaal as reserve-team coach during his time at Bayern Munich, has issued warnings over how the 62-year-old works. Scholl, who is now a TV pundit in his homeland, told The Guardian that the Dutchman gets results, but is very strict.
"He's very severe. So the players just have the chance to follow him or they are out, and he takes the next players. He's very good with young players. I think everywhere he was, he had some problems with big players and the staff."
Sky Sports reveals Scholl's explanation to how he feels Van Gaal approaches a new squad.
He added: "There are 26, 27 players and he is looking for the 14 to follow him – 14, 15, 16 to follow. His thing is not the motivation (man-management). He's good in motivation, but this is not his main character thing".
"His thing is really working on the pitch – that's brilliant. And that's how the players learn. You know by yourself that if you learn from somebody you are curious, you want to learn more."
Scholl even thinks the senior players, such as Wayne Rooney, may struggle to adapt.
"Some of the players, I can tell you, like Rooney, I don't think he has to learn anything more. So that will be difficult for him if the coach says: 'You have to do it in a completely different way. Whatever you did until now, change it.'"
However, Scholl does not anticipate Robin van Persie having any ongoing issues with his national-team boss, adding: "The thing Van Gaal teaches is the same thing Van Persie learned from the very beginning. So there, I think, there will be no big problem. Of course, he is a big player but he is a Dutch player. That's the thing, and the difference to Rooney.
Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano witnessed first-hand how Van Gaal worked at Barcelona during his time there, and speaking prior to David Moyes' sacking at a business leadership conference in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, he stated the Dutchman had a 'difficult style'.
However, former Germany midfielder Mehmet Scholl, who worked with Van Gaal as reserve-team coach during his time at Bayern Munich, has issued warnings over how the 62-year-old works. Scholl, who is now a TV pundit in his homeland, told The Guardian that the Dutchman gets results, but is very strict.
"He's very severe. So the players just have the chance to follow him or they are out, and he takes the next players. He's very good with young players. I think everywhere he was, he had some problems with big players and the staff."
Sky Sports reveals Scholl's explanation to how he feels Van Gaal approaches a new squad.
He added: "There are 26, 27 players and he is looking for the 14 to follow him – 14, 15, 16 to follow. His thing is not the motivation (man-management). He's good in motivation, but this is not his main character thing".
"His thing is really working on the pitch – that's brilliant. And that's how the players learn. You know by yourself that if you learn from somebody you are curious, you want to learn more."
Scholl even thinks the senior players, such as Wayne Rooney, may struggle to adapt.
"Some of the players, I can tell you, like Rooney, I don't think he has to learn anything more. So that will be difficult for him if the coach says: 'You have to do it in a completely different way. Whatever you did until now, change it.'"
However, Scholl does not anticipate Robin van Persie having any ongoing issues with his national-team boss, adding: "The thing Van Gaal teaches is the same thing Van Persie learned from the very beginning. So there, I think, there will be no big problem. Of course, he is a big player but he is a Dutch player. That's the thing, and the difference to Rooney.
Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano witnessed first-hand how Van Gaal worked at Barcelona during his time there, and speaking prior to David Moyes' sacking at a business leadership conference in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, he stated the Dutchman had a 'difficult style'.
The United players, in the meantime, will be looking to continue with their form from last week with a win over Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday.
