Van Gaal and Sir Alex Ferguson run-in involving spilled wine after Man Utd jibe
A glass of red with Sir Alex Ferguson in his office post-match became a tradition of legend among football managers over the 27 years the Scot filled the Old Trafford hotseat.
Various managers from big European names on Champions League nights to lower league bosses at an FA Cup tie have told a host of stories of the day Fergie uncorked the wine and chewed the fat after a game. But there was a night in April 2010, when even the great one may have thought the wine tasted rather sour and it came courtesy of a man who one day would occupy the same chair in Manchester.
United had been to Munich and lost 2-1 in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, giving up two late goals after leading through Wayne Rooney in the second minute. A week later, United raced into a 3-0 lead at home in the second leg. Ivica Olic pulled one back before the break and five minutes into the second half, the game turned on a Rafael red card.
Arjen Robben scored the goal that made it 4-4 on aggregate as United went out on away goals. What happened next left first-team coach, Rene Meulensteen, close to boiling point.
“It was a bitter feeling, and I wasn’t impressed by Louis van Gaal, the Bayern manager, in the gaffer’s office afterwards. I was pouring the wine as they both took a seat.
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“‘Do you know why we won the game?’ Van Gaal asked Sir Alex. ‘It’s because I gave a better team talk.’
“I might have deliberately been a little energetic with my pouring of his wine – missing the glass and getting it over his trousers and shoes. 'Sorry about that,’ I said, with much less polite words running through my head. I normally enjoyed spending time with rival managers after a game – that was one occasion I was quite happy to leave quickly.”
Rene Meulensteen: United, Sir Alex And Me, published by Reach Sport £18.99, is on sale August 10th from Amazon and all good book shops
Arjen Robben knocked Man Utd out of the Champions League in 2010 (Getty Images)The following season, United set out to avoid falling at the same hurdle. They did just that, topping their Champions League group without losing a game and making it all the way to the final, where they lost 3-1 to Barcelona.
That run was built on defensive solidity, with just four goals conceded in 12 games en route to the final at Wembley. There would be no repeat of what happened in 2010.
In 2011, it was Bayern who found themselves the wrong side of the away goals rule. At one point, they led 3-1 on aggregate against Inter Milan in their round of 16 tie, but Wesley Sneijder and Goran Pandev hit second-half goals at the Allianz Arena to send the Nerazzurri through.
Van Gaal's Bayern reign ended not long after that, but the Dutchman would return to Old Trafford in 2014. He took over as manager of Man Utd after David Moyes, spending two seasons at the helm, but Rene Meulensteen hasn't forgotten that 2010 meeting.
Rene Meulensteen: United, Sir Alex And Me, published by Reach Sport £18.99, is on sale August 10th from Amazon and all good book shops.
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