We doubt Louis van Gaal will care much about Hristo Stoichkov’s opinion of him, but the Bulgarian’s views on the Dutchman are stinging nonetheless.
In an interview with Spanish paper Sport, Stoichkov revealed how Van Gaal…erm…called him an ugly b*stard to his wife during the pair’s spell at the Nou Camp between 1997 and 1998.
“I have no respect for [Van Gaal] – he’s scum,” said Stoichkov. “One day, when I was injured, I was with my wife at Camp Nou and Van Gaal went up to her.
“He asked her how it was possible that she married someone like me. She responded that I was a Ballon d’Or winner.
“My departure in 1998 was the fault of Van Gaal, for sure.”
Despite his animosity towards Van Gaal, Stoichkov still holds Jose Mourinho in high regard after working with the Portuguese at Barcelona.
“I don’t think that Mourinho was merely an interpretor,” he said. “He was already a coach in his own right.
“But he never thought he was worth more than then-coach Sir Bobby Robson. Mourinho understood everything – from our own team to our opponents.”
