Louis Van Gaal open to Premier League return to 'get one over Manchester United'

Louis Van Gaal has admitted he would like to return to the Premier League to get revenge on Manchester United.

The 20-time champions of England sacked the former Bayern Munich manager in May 2016 soon after he had guided them to a first trophy in three seasons, as United clinched the FA Cup by beating Crystal Palace 2-1 at Wembley.

While the 66-year-old admitted he is unlikely to return to coaching, he insisted he would make an exception for a Premier League club, as it would give the chance to "get one over" his former club.

"I will probably not manage a club anymore," Van Gaal said in Rotterdam on Sunday night (17 December), as quoted by the Mirror.

"I would make one exception — if a big English club comes for me, than I would do it. Because then I can get the chance to get one over on Manchester United.''

The Dutchman, who spent two seasons at Old Trafford, has not forgiven United's chief executive Ed Woodward for approaching Jose Mourinho behind his back and for the way the club handled his dismissal.

"Woodward should have come to me and we could have worked on that," Van Gaal added.

Following David Moyes' disastrous nine-month tenure, United fans hoped the Dutchman's arrival in the summer of 2014 could ignite a swift return to success. However, while the former Holland manager successfully clinched a Champions League spot in his first campaign in the Premier League, his overly pragmatic style of football saw fans turn on him during his second season in charge.

Their return to European football's elite competition was also short-lived, as United were knocked out of a Champions League group containing Wolfsburg, PSV Eindhoven and CSKA Moscow. Failure to qualify for the knockout stages saw United entered the Europa League as one of the best four third-placed finishers in the Champions League group stage, only to lose to Liverpool 3-1 on aggregate in the round of 16.

The Dutchman's second Premier League campaign was also highly disappointing, as United's promising start soon petered out as the Red Devils found themselves marooned in fifth place from January onward and missed out on a top four finish on goal difference.

However, Van Gaal ultimately ended his spell at United on a high, as his side came from behind to beat Crystal Palace at Wembley and secure a first FA Cup in 12 years courtesy of a Jesse Lingard's thunderbolt in the second half of extra time.