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Van Gaal: Managing Spurs would have been easier

Louis van Gaal says he knew the problems he would face at Manchester United © PA Photos

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Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says he knew he was taking on a big rebuilding job at Old Trafford and has no regrets about becoming David Moyes' successor after a difficult start to the season.

But the Dutchman admitted he would have had an easier life - an earned much the same salary - if he had chosen to take charge at Tottenham instead.

Glazers' spending is just great

Angel Di Maria was a British record signing © Getty Images

• Louis van Gaal has thanked Manchester United's owners for backing him in the transfer market despite his difficult start to life at Old Trafford. The club spent £150 million in the summer transfer window as the Dutchman started to rebuild the squad and the overhaul looks set to continue in January.
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"No, I don't regret taking this job," Van Gaal was quoted as saying in the Daily Mirror. "Yes, it is a massive job I have taken on at Manchester United. I realise that.

"And the situation is not worse than I thought. I knew what I would find on my plate. I could have opted for an easier job. If I had gone to Tottenham, the job would not have been as enormous as here at United.

"I could have easily gone to Spurs. But I chose the biggest challenge of all the jobs in football. And I really wanted to join the number one club in the country, not Tottenham.

"Financially, Tottenham was kind of as attractive as Man United. But, in my eyes, Man United is still the number one club in England. Tottenham really is not."

Van Gaal turned down Tottenham before accepting the Manchester United job but knows that such disappointments as defeat to Swansea, humiliation at Milton Keynes and a draw with Burnley cannot continue unchecked, even if the fans are still giving him their support.

"Don't be fooled," he said. "Every manager loves recognition and appreciation. So do I - if I don't get any applause, I would not be able to keep going for so long as a manager. Nobody can.

"But you also need a bit of luck. I have been lucky in the beginning of my career. Ajax wanted to sack me half-way in my first season at the club, but they kept believing in me, and look what happened.

"I have the energy and the players and the club give me energy. I think it is fantastic that I have so much work on my plate. It means I have a lot to do and I am capable of doing it."

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