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Victor Valdes wins battle with Van Gaal but loses the war

By on August 11, 2015

In the modern world of football, with high-profile, millionaire egos competing as players, managers, and owners, the occasional bust-up is expected.

Louis van Gaal, in particular, is known to ruffle feathers with his no-frills down-to-business style of management. Rivaldo, Johan Cruyff, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Mark van Bommel, Ronald Koeman and Hristo Stoichkov are a few of the names the Dutchman has rubbed the wrong way over the course of his managerial career, and at Manchester United, he has already shuffled Angel Di Maria and Robin Van Persie out the door.

But perhaps none of his bust-ups of late have been as sensational as the ongoing war or words with Victor Valdes, less because of the content, than the very public nature of the dispute.

Van Gaal first took to the press to criticize his goalkeeper’s unwillingness to play with United’s reserve side, which Valdes, a multiple Champions League winner, seemingly took the wrong way.

There was, of course, a practical reason for Valdes playing with the reserves. He joined United after a career-threatening injury that forced him out of Barcelona’s picture and was never going to take the starting position away from United’s most valuable player in the previous two seasons, David De Gea. In fact, Valdes was signed primarily as a backup for De Gea, and to guard against the starter’s ultimate departure.

By playing with the reserves, Valdes would remain fit and maintain Van Gaal’s confidence, so when De Gea finally went, the No1 spot would have been Valdes’ to take. Stepping out of line with Van Gaal’s wishes almost always leads to being ostracized, no matter the player — much less a “substitute” however decorated he may be.

Of all people, Valdes should know that. Back in 2002, Van Gaal gave the Spanish goalkeeper his break in Barcelona’s starting eleven, only to drop Valdes for Turkish goalkeeper Rustu Recber a few months into the season. Valdes was reportedly ordered to play for Barcelona’s reserves in a second division match away to Reus, but failed to attend training the day before the game. The pair went to war and while Van Gaal eventually restored Valdes do the first team, the Dutch manager was sacked by the end of the season.

This time around, the fire was lit when Valdes responded to Van Gaal’s comments via social media, in a thinly veiled message that he had caved to Van Gaal’s wishes for a time; indeed, a witty response but not so strategic. For Van Gaal, that was the last straw and the Dutch manager subsequently confirmed that Valdes was on his way out, buying Argentina international Sergio Romero to take Valdes out of the picture.

Then Valdes had his say, admitting he is a “difficult player to work with.” Effectively, Valdes is blaming Van Gaal for mismanaging the situation and claiming the Dutch manager hasn’t been able to manage a star talent; specifically the job that Van Gaal was brought in to do.

Valdes may have won the battle of words, but Van Gaal is the only winner of the war. Valdes had little to gain from trading blows with Van Gaal, but perhaps the two men’s decade-old dispute from the Barcelona years was just too much to overcome.

Photo credit: Pablo Ortiz052, via Wikimedia Commons

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.