We rarely see Louis van Gaal evoke emotions that will make him vulnerable. He has mastered the art of remaining stoic, through the best and worst moments in the field.
So when he was so overcome with joy that he said he can kiss new recruit Memphis Depay after the Dutch’s brace against Club Brugge in the League Route tiff for the 2015-16 UEFA Champions League, the image of an outwardly excited Van Gaal caught us off guard.
And why not? Manchester United FC have long been in search of a savior – manager or player – after the exit of Sir Alex Ferguson and the last Red Devil’s hurrah in both the domestic and European football landscape. They tried – and for most part failed – from the hiring of David Moyes to the acquisition of Angel Di Maria and everything in between.
Now, they threw all their marbles again in the hope that Depay would be different. Is he? And if yes, should fans entertain this giddy sense of excited anticipation? If his early showing for the Old Trafford outfit is used to serve as gauge, then there is merit warranting such state of feverish excitement. Because if a man like Van Gaal is brought to this kind of unraveling, there is definitely a very good reason why.
Who wouldn’t be moved? That big red number on Depay’s back was an iconic image of an Old Trafford hero – George Best, Bryan Robson, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. After Ronaldo’s exit, the seven has lost its potency as a skilled talisman. Antonio Valencia failed. Angel Di Maria failed to even try his very best, opting to leave instead after an awful first season.
But Depay, he is proud to the point of being arrogant – because he does not care what people expect, what people think of the 7 jersey, and what the defense will give him, because he knows what he can do. And against Club Brugge, he gave the fans a hint of what is to come soon. The proverbial tip of the iceberg.
And after that match, fans can’t wait to see more.
Bet on the Club Brugge-Manchester United FC match up now with the best UEFA Champions League odds available at SBOBET.com, the only place in online betting where one wallet means endless possibilities and never-ending fun.
