Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag says Louis Van Gaal originally told him not to take the job at Old Trafford.
The Dutchman was on the brink of being sacked at the end of last season but saved himself by winning the FA Cup at Wembley.
Now he is being given free reign to continue his rebuild with the Red Devils and has already added highly-rated defender Leny Yoro to his ranks this summer.
It has been a very bumpy ride for the former Ajax man, but after signing a new one-year deal a few weeks ago, the 54-year-old seems determined to succeed in Manchester.
Speaking with Dutch publication AD, he said: “[Ralf] Rangnick was absolutely right. We have been working very hard on this for two years, but he said it exactly right: it is a thorough, very complex operation.
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“And I knew when I started that it would be a tough job. There are a lot of people who advised me against it. Yes, including Louis van Gaal.‘
“This was by far the toughest season I have experienced as a coach.
“Does this club want to get back to where it was over a decade ago, to a club that wins the Premier League, that can win Champions Leagues? We are really a long way from that, I think.”
Van Gaal had previously fired a warning to Ten Hag when he was originally linked with the job in 2022.
He said leading Manchester United is about being more than just a coach, such is the commercial pressure at the club.
And after an eighth-placed finish in 2023-24, there must be a significant improvement for the Red Devils this season if the players are to continue putting their faith in Ten Hag.
United continue their pre-season preparations with a trip to Rangers having lost their opening match to Danish side Rosenborg.
