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Van Gaal: “I’m not like Wenger and Ferguson!”

As he marked 19 years as manager, the 64-year-old Wenger hit back at the sweeping criticism, having not won the Premier League since 2004.

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“We need to come back to that if we want to be more successful in the Champions League and to qualify, we need to do much better“.

The extent to which all those mentioned are now satisfied is up for debate.

Arsene Wenger deserves to be hailed for his 19-year Arsenal reign rather than derided over a lack of league titles, Louis van Gaal says.

The Dutchman was manager of Ajax for six years and four at AZ Alkmaar, but has otherwise had short stints at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and with the Holland national team.

“That is my aim and I want to do it in different countries, not only in the Netherlands but in Spain and Germany and England“.

“As I said, I am not that type”.

Now fourth in the table, Arsenal have a 24 percent win rate against United in the league, their lowest against any team in the competition, and their hopes to improve that record have suffered a blow, with defender Laurent Koscielny ruled out of the tie.

“It’s the most hard as well because both are two world-class players and always you have to leave one out”. “I think I have said my last aim to you”.

The 34-year-old midfielder sat out United’s win over Wolfsburg on Wednesday before being called up to Roy Hodgson’s Three Lions squad on Thursday.

United have spent around £258.7million on players under Louis van Gaal, including an initial £36million on the French teenager Anthony Martial. Van Gaal has been reportedly training his assistant manager Ryan Giggs to become his replacement. He was not really injured – it was a minor injury of tiredness.

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“I think he should buy someone like [Paul] Pogba who has a real presence and that could make us into a proper team”. “I am very happy with him – he accepts his role, and that’s also important”.

Arsene Wenger Criticised Arsenal players after defeat to Olympiacos