Van Gaal claims Man City's financial cheating directly cost him his Manchester United job

Louis van Gaal believes his dismissal as Manchester United manager in 2016 was a direct consequence of Manchester City’s financial cheating, after an independent commission ruled City guilty of all breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules — finding the club had benefitted from more than £900m of disguised funding between 2009 and 2018.

Van Gaal was sacked by United just 24 hours after leading the club to FA Cup glory over Crystal Palace, with the Old Trafford hierarchy citing the club’s failure to secure Champions League football as a key reason. City had pipped United to fourth place on goal difference at the end of the 2015-16 season.

“For me, at the time, that was probably the deciding factor in my dismissal from Manchester United and all the consequences and suffering this entailed,” the Dutchman told The Athletic by email. He was subsequently replaced by Jose Mourinho.

Van Gaal acknowledged there was little that could be done to reverse the past. “I cannot turn back history now,” he said. “Not even the English Football Association can.” When asked what punishment City should face, he deferred to due process: “Ultimately, that will have to be decided by the judge.”

Van Gaal is not alone in feeling aggrieved. Former Stoke City manager Tony Pulis said he felt cheated over his side’s FA Cup final defeat to City in 2011, a match now cast in doubt by the timeline of the financial misconduct. “This verdict and the whole situation has left a very sour taste in my mouth,” Pulis said, adding that while he did not expect trophies to be returned, “a points deduction and a massive fine feels far more likely.”

City launched an appeal on 1 October, with the club claiming they possess an “irrefutable body of evidence”. In a statement, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak insisted the club’s position had not changed. “We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed,” he said. “There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our club. We will not give them that opportunity.”

All parties are now awaiting the outcome of City’s appeal before the process moves forward.