Ruud Gullit has blamed Louis van Gaal for the defensive
crisis at Manchester United after accusing his fellow Dutchman of
spending too much of his transfer budget on attackers.
Gullit,
a previous European footballer of the year, believes that his
countryman Van Gaal doesn’t yet understand what the Premier League is
like, and is astounded that such a renowned manager would spend
£170million on the likes of Radamel Falcao, Ander Herrera and Angel di
Maria when his defence is so under-manned.
•Man United Manager, Van Gaal
•Ruud Gullit
“How
on earth is it possible that such an experienced and successful manager
thought he could start the season at Man United without buying a couple
of really strong central defenders?” Gullit said.
“I
am still amazed by his buying and his transfers. If you only strengthen
the midfield and the attack, than you are underestimating the level and
the power of the Premier League.
“If you want to
survive in the top flight of English football, you start with the
foundation and you build the roof of your house last. Van Gaal has done
it the other way round.’
United had only one senior
central defender available for their Premier League clash with West Ham,
and Gullit is adamant that Van Gaal’s transfer dealings have created
the club’s current defensive crisis – with the ex-Chelsea man also
warning that it will be a long time before the 63-year-old can rectify
his mistakes.
“Now, matters are even worse because of all the injuries in his defence. He is having to fill one gap after another,’ he said.
“And if you have so many injuries and you have not bought defenders, then you are doing something wrong at your club.’
Gullit
added: “Van Gaal is learning lessons right now. He sees that his
defenders are having to deal with the strongest strikers in the world.
They bash into his young defenders. In England there are different laws
in football.
“I do want him to be successful at Man
United, but by the time he has repaired his team at the back, it will
another three months down the road.”
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