Manchester United news: Louis van Gaal 'seen as a grandpa by younger players' who 'want Ryan Giggs as manager'

Some younger players are reportedly unhappy with Van Gaal's lack of one-on-one contact

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal with assistant Ryan Giggs (Getty)

A number of Manchester United’s younger players see Louis van Gaal as a ‘grandpa’ and want assistant manager Ryan Giggs to replace him at Old Trafford next season, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

The Dutchman’s tenure at club has come under scrutiny in recent months, with many expecting the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich head coach to exit at the end of the current campaign, one year before his three-year contract expires.

According to the Mail’s report, Van Gaal’s exit would be welcomed by some younger players at the club, who see his managerial techniques as old-fashioned and out-dated.

“A lot of them think he is a grandpa and has an out-of-date management style,” a source is quoted telling the Mail's reporters. “A number of players have become frustrated because of the lack of chances under Van Gaal.”

It is unclear as to whether the disgruntled players are junior first-team players or members of the club’s academy system.

The report’s sources also claim that a group of younger players are unhappy with the lack of one-on-one contact they have with their manager and would prefer the more-approachable Giggs to take over.

“He [Van Gaal] doesn’t speak to the young players and Giggs and [Under 21 manager Warren] Joyce are the only ones who want to encourage the young lads,” a source told the Mail.

“A lot of them would be very happy if Giggs took over because the players can relate to him. They can’t relate to Van Gaal – he’s too old.”

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been widely tipped to take over at Old Trafford should Van Gaal leave the club at the end of the season.

The younger group of players, however, are “unsure” about Mourinho, who has a poor track record of promoting youth players to the first-team.

Van Gaal, by comparison, has overseen the promotion of several academy graduates from the youth sides to the starting line-up.

Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard, two of the more high-profile graduates, have both established themselves under the stewardship of the Dutchman and played their way into contention for Roy Hodgson's senior England squad.