Tan: So you’re the new manager, since when has United been talking with you?
LVG: Not that long really, since around the time when Moyes got fired. It’s normal for these negotiations to take long, but people don’t seem to understand. Because a lot of business has to be settled between the club and manager. And you need to talk about the players you want to keep or get. The pre-season program. And also about the youth academy on which they want me to advise them. So we had a lot of conversations.
Tan: So the club calls you for negotiations with your agent.
LVG: No I do all negotiations myself. I just have a friend who are specialized in fiscal matters, who handles most talks for me. Because if I negotiate myself there will be a certain report with the person who will hire you, which doesn’t strike me as ideal.
Tan: What is your most important goal?
LVG: Well the goal is to be number 1 again as quickly as possible. The goal is to not only achieve this with star players, but also with youth products. Nowadays it seems to be “fashion” to do that. So most clubs like that end up talking with me.
Tan: Because your quality is that young players who still have a lot to learn, you can teach them your vision and teach them how to become better?
LVG: Yes, but that could also be older players. Because also young players could be different and dislike a certain vision. It doesn’t have a lot to do with age, it may seem so, but it’s not. I can say from experience.
Tan: So tell me in England they like to use a manager who controls everything like transfers and such. Will you also be taking those tasks upon yourself?
LVG: Yes.
Tan: And is it true they have 100m to spend?
LVG: About money we don’t talk. I talk about players I would like to get, and I ask them if that’s possible. We still have to see what happens. They will have to negotiate the transfers. I only tell them which players I like to keep, I would like to get and which players are allowed to leave.
Tan: There is one player I think who could leave United. Because at the Dutch NT you have 30 players and he’s not there. (Buttner) So I imagine if you’re not good enough for the Dutch NT are you good enough for Manchester United?
LVG: Well you could say stuff like that, but I can’t talk about that. This wouldn’t be good for Buttner if I answered this nor would it be good for United or for me.
(Mourinho Interview plays)
Tan: How is your relationship now that you become opponents?
LVG: That doesn’t matter. If we play each other, he wants to win and I want to win. He is the first person I sent a text message to after my family. And he texted me back saying he was jealous of the clubs I have trained at. He made sure to especially mention AZ Alkmaar.
Tan: Does this United business interrupt with your Dutch NT business.
LVG: No because a manager is different from a player. A player has to make a decision on the pitch within a split second. A manager has 30 to 60 days to think about a lot of stuff. I have done all my work for United during my off days. Today I stayed in Holland where everyone thought I would go to England, because I had to work on the videos of the Ecuador match from last week. I could also have gone to Manchester, but I decide the times when I have can deal with my business. But a player has to perform in a match right away.
Tan: Do the players understand this? Or do you try to explain this to them? Because if you do it, don’t they think they should be able to do so as well. (This is a reference to LVG saying that players who are in transfer talks, have less chance to be selected because they will be with their minds elsewhere, like thinking about moving and how to deal with their families, etc.)
LVG: No, because like I just said a manager and player are completely different. But I did try to conclude the deal as fast as possible so I can now focus as much as possible on the Dutch NT.
Tan: So what’s your schedule like with United? Do you need to be back at number 1 within one season? What did settled on with them?
LVG: Well they think it should be possible within one season. In Spain and Germany I also became champion within my first season, so it’s possible to do so as well in England, but there can be only one champion. If you succeed in doing so, you should be very proud you did.
Tan: How do you compare United to the other clubs you trained at? (Lists clubs LVG trained at) And then there is United a top club in decline. How do you look at the club?
LVG: Well Manchester is the biggest club of the world. When it comes to marketing and their budget, so a club like that needs to play at the top. Because in general your performance gets judged by your budget, but in England you also have Arabic owners who can spend even more. Nonetheless we have to take on the challenge of becoming first again. Which is a great, but difficult challenge.
Tan: And how difficult is it to have someone as SAF on the background? Such a great manager who has won everything. Is his blessing needed?
LVG: Well I will obviously have a drink with him, which I have done plenty of times. We like each other. I was going to succeed him 10 years ago when he was considering to retire. I don’t think it will be an issue, especially because I put more pressure on myself than others can do.
Tan: There were a lot of reactions. (Lists a few example, LVG can make a cake out of a turd, etc.) What did you tell Woodward that made him like you so much?
LVG: I explained him my vision just like I did at Bayern, Barcelona and AZ. When I talk with the board I always explain them my vision and what is needed and which staff I’m going to bring. That’s what impressed him and I explained the exact same thing to the owners.
Tan: Is it also that a club needs to interview with LVG? (In Dutch this means that clubs need to convince van Gaal that THEY would be a great fit for him.)
LVG: I didn’t call United, I didn’t call Bayern. They called me. Which as you know is difficult, because nobody knows my phone number only journalists do, so it has to go through a lot of channels before it reaches me. Which is something I’m proud of, that even though I have no agent nor go out a lot, I pick the clubs when they come. I think I said it in October or November that I would resign after the world cup. The appointment of Hiddink as new Dutch NT manager took 3 months, which is much longer than it took with United.
Tan: When will you move? I imagine your wife will decide that because you’re so busy?
LVG: Exactly. At the club I have only talked about my vision, the preparation for next season and the players. Because I only dealt with them in my off days there wasn’t a lot of time. But she will take care of that so don’t you worry.