Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson “should be scared” of Bayern Munich’s quality, the Bundesliga club’s coach Louis Van Gaal said in pre-match comments before the two clubs’ showdown in the Champions League on Tuesday. The Dutchman was quick to dispel the notion that his players were afraid of United’s Wayne Rooney and were still having a hangover from their Champions League final defeat to the Red Devils – 11 years ago.
Addressing the worries emanating originally from the German club that the players would find it impossible to mark Wayne Rooney, Louis Van Gaal praised the English striker but stated his full confidence in the team in knowing how to handle the matchup.
“I never have fear and my players don’t have any fear either,” said Van Gaal. “We value Rooney’s quality. He is a super footballer.
“When he was younger, I often wondered whether he had the vision in his game. He has developed that now and is very hard to mark out of the game. But we can manage because we also have quality. Ferguson and his players should be scared of that.”
Van Gaal would be more worried about the fitness issues within the German club as Bayern Munich might have to do without both wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery. The Dutchman is receiving round the clock treatment on a groin injury while Ribery is more likely to be involved despite an ankle injury that has plagued him throughout the season.
Van Gaal was present at the scene of Manchester United’s greatest European triumph when they beat Bayern Munich through two injury time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Till this day, the Dutchman is still coming to grips with how the English Premier League champions managed to come through a test of resolve.
“It was incredible. I still find it incredible,” Van Gaal recalled. “I was in the stadium and I remember what a high intensity occasion it was. It was fascinating to watch, although I was not at Bayern Munich then. Now I don’t think I would find it so good.”
Tags: Arjen Robben, Bayern Munich, Louis Van Gaal, Manchester United, UEFA Champions League, Wayne Rooney
