Rodgers warns van Gaal, who plays it cool
Grab your popcorn folks because the cat fight has started early.
Fresh from being defeated by Louis van Gaal in the International Champions Cup last Monday (Aug 6), Liverpool manager has warned van Gaal that he will not find the Premier League easy.
The two teams will only meet each other in the Premier League on December 13, but Rodgers was keen to let van Gaal know that he will will find the competition tougher than anything he has experience before, reported The Guardian.
"I think the competition will probably take him by surprise, and that’s from foreign managers I have spoken to over the years. I’ve worked closely with foreign players, and that real physical competitive nature will be different to anywhere else he’s worked before," Rodgers said.
“I think what he’ll find is the competition in this league will be different from any other league that he’s worked in," he added.
Van Gaal's response?
Daily Mail reported that that he responded with a smile "of a man who knows what to expect".
"That's why I'm here," he said.
"OK maybe he is right because I have to experience that, but I was also in Spain and in my first year I won three titles. In Germany I won two titles. If I win one here, we will all be happy." He added.
The Premier League kicks off on Aug 16 and if these two continue their banter, the 2014/2015 season will certainly be something to look forward to.
And to think that we have not thrown the affable Jose Mourinho into the mix yet.
Source: The Guardian, Daily Mail, Premier League, Reddit
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now