Manchester United: Louis van Gaal does not understand Premier League says Andrei Kanchelskis

Louis van Gaal "does not understand" the Premier League and is incapable of delivering the kind of attacking football demanded by Manchester United fans, according to Andrei Kanchelskis. The former Red Devils winger said that Van Gaal does not allow his players to express themselves enough in matches and is "not a head coach for Manchester United".

However, he is of the view that the Dutchman should be given time until the end of the season to turn around the club's fortunes. United are on a six-match winless run in all competitions and were booed off the pitch at Old Trafford following a 2-1 defeat against Norwich City on 19 December.

The Red Devils crashed out of the Champions League after losing their final group match against Wolfsburg earlier this month, and were eliminated from the League Cup by Championship side Middlesbrough in October.

'Disappointed'

"I am disappointed with the way United are playing," Kanchelskis, who made 123 league appearances for the club between 1991 and 1995, told Reuters. "Under Alex Ferguson, we played in a more attacking style of football and played in a 4-4-2 [formation]. Van Gaal sees things differently. This is not a head coach for Manchester United," he added.

"I just don't think that Van Gaal understands English football. A team needs to have leaders, like Bryan Robson, Roy Keane, Peter Schmeichel, who can give the right things at the necessary moment and can show their leadership qualities.

"The coach does not want this and this is the reason for such disastrous results," the former winger stressed.

Despite disapproving of Van Gaal's methods, Kanchelskis said United must wait until the summer if they want to change managers. "He needs to be given until the end of the season and then a decision should be made," the former Russia international stated.

"Chelsea have already made a stupid mistake in sacking [Jose] Mourinho. Manchester City are also close to making the same mistake." United travel to the Britannia Stadium to face Stoke City on Boxing Day and host Chelsea at Old Trafford two days later.