MX23RW : Monday, November 18 10:17:32| >> :60:3267:3267:

Paul Parker critical of "incredibly stubborn" Louis van Gaal

Ex-Manchester United full-back Paul Parker provides a damning assessment of the way that Louis van Gaal is currently managing the team.

Paul Parker has become the latest former Manchester United player to aim criticism in the direction of manager Louis van Gaal.

The Red Devils are currently third in the Premier League and just one point adrift of leaders Manchester City, but their style of play in an attacking sense has been heavily scrutinised in recent weeks.

The likes of Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Michael Owen have all expressed concerns in their respective punditry roles, while ex-captain Roy Keane has questioned the continual inclusion of skipper Wayne Rooney.

Parker, who made over 100 appearances for the club during a five-year period, has now joined the growing list of doubters, having branded Van Gaal "incredibly stubborn" and accused him of putting "the fear of God into players".

"When Louis van Gaal arrived at United, I thought he too would be flexible. But we now have a situation where there are a lot of discontented players and we have to question why they are playing badly," he wrote in his Eurosport column.

"Van Gaal puts the fear of God into players. It has to be his way. He selfishly manages the team. No-one enjoys it. He may be a successful manager, but he must learn – even at his age – to become a good man-manager.

"At the moment we have to say he's not man-managing that team. All those players he's got are not bad players, and they've not played negative football all their lives. He's being incredibly stubborn."

Ahead of their home encounter against West Ham United at the weekend, Van Gaal's men have drawn five of their last eight games in all competitions.

ID:260175: cacheID:260175:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3100:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Louis van Gaal Manager of Manchester United looks on prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford on November 7, 2015 in Manchester, England.
Read Next:
Meulensteen: 'Man Utd are rigid under Van Gaal'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!