• Premier League

Manchester United's Van Gaal: I was once a Liverpool target

ESPN staff
March 22, 2015
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Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has said he once held talks about joining Liverpool.

Van Gaal was strongly linked with becoming director of football at Anfield in May 2012, before Brendan Rodgers was appointed as manager.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss was appointed United manager last summer, and on Sunday takes his current team to Liverpool for a crunch Premier League match in the context of the pursuit of Champions League football.

Van Gaal, quoted by several national newspapers, said of the Anfield interest: "It was flattering. It is always pleasing to be contacted by a leading club, and Liverpool have a very good record in history.

"But I am the coach of United now, I can only speak about Liverpool as an opponent. It is not so interesting anymore, it is in the past.

"It was the same with Tottenham last week. I have spoken to a lot of clubs but it is not good for Liverpool, Tottenham or for me to reopen things that are in the past."

Van Gaal, 63, said earlier this week that the United challenge would be his last as a manager.

However, that does not mean he is preparing to retire in the near future. The first 12 months of a three-year contract will soon be up, but Van Gaal said: "I can confirm this will be my last club but there could be five years to go yet."

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