Van Gaal was brought in to steady the Old Trafford ship in the summer of 2014 when Manchester United’s experimentation with David Moyes as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor failed woefully.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager lasted just two seasons before he was shown the exit and replaced by Jose Mourinho.
Van Gaal signed the likes of Angel di Maria, Ander Herrera, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw and Radamel Falcao in his first season before adding Bastian Schweinsteiger, Anthony Martial, Sergio Romero, Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin, Matteo Darmian and Victor Valdes in his second season –all for a combined fee of just over £270m.
Van Gaal could only deliver one FA Cup during his time as United manager but the 68-year-old says failure to bring the glory days back to the club was not entirely his fault as they were reluctant in opening up the purse.
“Manchester United did not have the qualities to become champions and had an outdated selection with ten players over 30, five over 35," Van Gaal told Voetbal International, via the Manchester Evening News.
"So I told them I was going to rejuvenate and which players should come. I didn’t get one of those.
"Then you end up in a different segment and as a coach you have to push your boundaries. You don’t expect that at the richest club in the world.
“A turnover of £600million and can’t buy the players you need. You should buy number one and not number seven.
"Of course, the selling club also thinks: 'If you are so rich, you also have to pay the highest amount imaginable for a player.' That was what happened with transfers.
"Then you have to do with the numbers seven or eight on your wish list. For which you actually pay way too much money, on which the coach is judged and convicted.”
United finished fourth and fifth in Van Gaal’s two seasons in charge.
