Man Utd not going to win the League this season: Ancelotti has harsh words for Van Gaal

Carlo Ancelotti has warned Louis Van Gaal to forget about winning the Premier League in his first season in charge of Manchester United.

Real Madrid boss Ancelotti won the League and FA Cup double in his first season at Chelsea in 2009-10 but he thinks Van Gaal will struggle to do the same at Old Trafford – especially after imposing a new formation.

 

Whereas Ancelotti inherited a relatively strong and settled team he says Van Gaal faces the problem of a major re-building job at United following the debacle under David Moyes last season when they finished seventh – their lowest position for 24 years.

 

He said: “After [Sir Alex] Ferguson, it was more difficult for United, but they now have to rebuild a team. They have signed good players, but building a team is not easy and the Premier League is a very competitive league.

 

“It will not be easy to win in the first year because there are many competitive teams who want to win. And it is not easy to implement a new system.

“It is important that the players are convinced [about the formation], but it is difficult to say how long it will take.

 

“Van Gaal is a very good and very experienced manager and I'm sure he will do a fantastic job at United. He is a manager who has nothing to learn.”

It will not be easy to win in the first year because there are many competitive teams who want to win

Carlo Ancelotti

Ancelotti, who guided Real to their 10th Champions League victory in May after they finished runners-up in La Liga to neighbours Atletico, was rumoured to be on United’s managerial short-list after Moyes was dismissed just 10 months after succeeding Ferguson but swerved questions whether he was actually approached.

 

He smiled as he said: “These are rumours that usually happen, but I am at a fantastic club. I have lots of respect for United, but I am happy here and I think they have made a good chance in Louis van Gaal.”

 

Cristiano Ronaldo has been ruled out of the re-union with his former club here tomorrow in the International Champions Cup with Real Madrid concentrating on getting the Portugal superstar fit for the Spanish Super Cup clash with Atletico Madrid.

 

“He has been working individually, separate from the team,” said Ancelotti. “But he will not play tomorrow and will train when back at Madrid because we will use him in the Super Cup.

 

“The plan for Cristiano was right. We gave him one month of rest and started back on July 26, but he needs to recover completely and for this reason we don’t want to take a risk tomorrow.”