Manchester United's former captain Bryan Robson believes Louis Van Gaal will bring a similar aura to the club's most successful manager Alex Ferguson.
The former Middlesbrough and West Brom manager was on Off The Ball tonight at Galway's Radisson Hotel and previewed the season from a Man United perspective.
"As a manager when you walk in, you've got to have an aura about you. From then on, when you go on the training pitch, you've got to have discipline and a presence about you. The players will soon see through that, if you haven't got that. This guy sees through everybody, the same as Sir Alex. Sir Alex would know everything and you couldn't get away with anything as a player. I think Louis Van Gaal has come in and put that in place," said the former England skipper, also sharing the positives from the pre-season.
Robson who also recalled his first impressions of Ferguson and his hairdryer treatment when the Scotsman first arrived at Old Trafford in 1986, recounted a funny incident involving Ireland legend Paul McGrath and the long-time manager.
Bryan Robson and Paul McGrath facing off at international level ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
"Big Paul was dead funny but you didn't dare laugh because the boss had given the hairdryer treatment. The boss is six inches from his face and the big man turned around to the gaffer when he'd finished ranting at him and he says 'I don't know why you have to speak to me so loud, I'm only here!'"
Robson was joined on stage in Galway by Off The Ball regular and his former West Brom manager John Giles, with the duo reliving their time together at the Hawthorns in the 1970s and predicting how this season will unfold.
Captain Marvel, reminisced about his colorful injury history which curtailed his World Cup experiences and the lead up to finally winning the Premier League title in 1992/93.
He also remembered feisty practice matches against the Class of 92 when the youngsters were coming through, joking: "I wouldn't go near Scholesy. He was too rough for me!"
Robson also felt that Ferguson's predecessor Ron Atkinson, who won two FA Cups, was unlucky in some ways and also spoke about the time when Juventus came in for him.
"Everybody talks about 1984 when three Italian clubs came in for me. From what I heard there was Juventus, Sampdoria and AC Milan. At that time Italy was the place to play. I must say, when Juventus said they were interested, I mean they had Platini playing for them and eight of the 1982 World Cup winners," said Robson, who admitted he was tempted by the offer but was persuaded to stay at Man United.
Plus, he also revealed who was his favourite to play with at club or international level, as well as his memories of Eric Cantona and Roy Keane, and his most treasured moment in football.
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
