Di Maria calls ex-Man United boss 'worst for sure' in all-time managers chat (2024)

Selecting your best ever managers when you have worked alongside Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti will always be a tall order.

But for Angel Di Maria, his time spent with the legendary coaches has only made it easier for him to pinpoint exactly who he has not enjoy playing for over the years.

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The 36-year-old has enjoyed an incredible career, winning almost everything in football, including the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.

But despite his many successes, a disappointing one-season spell at Manchester United in 2014, having signed for £59.7million, is one chapter which he does not reflect so fondly on.

Di Maria scored just four goals in 32 appearances in all competitions at Old Trafford, and he has now named his manager during that time, Louis van Gaal, as the worst coach he has ever played under.

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Speaking to ESPN Argentina, the current Benfica winger was asked to identify the top three managers in his career.

And while he struggled to narrow down a star-studded list here, he quickly offered his thoughts on the Dutchman.

He said whilst smiling: "The worst is Van Gaal, of that I can assure you without a doubt. Just to let you know before you ask."

This isn't the first time Di Maria has taken a swipe at his former boss.

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Di Maria has publicly criticised van Gaal on numerous occasions, previously blasting his management style, only for the 71-year-old to laugh this off ahead of a clash between the Netherlands and Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.

Despite a bad experience with his former United coach however, the former Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain star had plenty of kind words for some of his other old mentors.

Discussing his three best managers during his 19 years in professional football, Di Maria highlighted two figures from the Argentina set-up.

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He first named current national team boss Lionel Scaloni, who led the country to a third World Cup victory in 2022, saying: "Scaloni without a doubt, he's a great coach in every sense.

"Because of the staff he has, the connection with the players and how he manages the games, it's perfect.

"I think he's one of the best."

Di Maria then reserved some special praise for the late Alejandro Sabella, who took Argentina to the final of the 2014 World Cup, before passing away in 2020, aged 66.

He said of the former Leeds midfielder, who spent a year at Elland Road in 1980: "Then Alejandro [Sabella] too.

"He was a manager who had a big impact on me. I learned a lot with him."

After this, the seven-time league champion with Benfica, Real and PSG struggled to choose between Mourinho and Ancelotti to complete his top three.

He admitted: "And after, it's hard. I had a lot of coaches. Mourinho, Ancelotti.

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"I played for so many good managers that it's hard to pick."

Di Maria lifted the 2011 Copa del Rey and 2012 LaLiga trophies under the Special One's guidance in the Spanish capital, before winning his first and only Champions League title with Ancelotti in charge of Los Blancos in 2014.

Later in the same interview, he reserved some special words for footballing icon Diego Maradona, who oversaw his development with Argentina between 2008 and 2010.

On his time with the late sporting legend, he reflected: "I won't consider him as a manager to you because to me he was more of a close friend, someone who stopped by to chat.

"He didn't seem like a manager but more like a friend, a brother, a dad. A dad more than anything.

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"He would put up with me when nobody else did, helped me to move forward. The more criticism I received, the more he supported me.

Di Maria then added: "He was everything to me. Diego is the best that ever was. I've said it before, Leo Messi is the greatest of all time, but Diego is Diego. To me, to Argentina and to the world."

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Di Maria calls ex-Man United boss 'worst for sure' in all-time managers chat (2024)

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