• Champions League

Van Gaal meets Robben at Bayern's hotel

ESPN staff
November 25, 2014
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Louis van Gaal has revealed he met Arjen Robben at Bayern Munich's team hotel ahead of their clash against Manchester City - but did not see the club hierarchy after recently being criticised by CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Van Gaal, now in charge of Manchester United, coached Bayern between 2009 and 2011, leading the club to the 2009-10 Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal as well as reaching that season's Champions League final.

Louis van Gaal coached Arjen Robben during his time in charge of both Bayern Munich and the Netherlands © Getty Images
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However, he was sacked during a disappointing 2010-11 campaign, and Rummenigge told German weekly Der Spiegel earlier this month that the Dutchman was "not always low maintenance" and "wanted to 'Van Gaal-ise' the club".

Van Gaal visited the Lowry Hotel in Manchester ahead of Bayern's clash at the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League, but he told reporters he was not there to meet club officials.

"I am not here to see Bayern but Arjen Robben," Van Gaal, the former Netherlands manager, told Sport Bild. Referring to Bayern's traditional post-match get-together, he added: "I won't attend the banquet."

Robben has a strong relationship with Van Gaal, having joined Bayern shortly after him in 2009 and also starred in his Netherlands team at this summer's World Cup, but he stressed in an interview with the Daily Telegraph last month that he was not seeking a move to Old Trafford.

"At the moment, there is not even one percent of me thinking about going to England or anywhere," Robben said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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