Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 9y

Louis van Gaal: Bayern Munich visit was only to see Arjen Robben

Louis van Gaal said he met Arjen Robben during Bayern Munich's stay in Manchester this week but did not see the club hierarchy, having recently been criticised for attempting to "Van Gaal-ise" the side during his time in charge.

Van Gaal, now in charge of Manchester United, coached the German champions between 2009 and 2011, leading the team to success in the 2009-10 Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal as well as reaching that season's Champions League final.

However, he was sacked during a disappointing 2010-11 campaign, and Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told Der Spiegel earlier this month that the Dutchman was "not always was low maintenance" and "wanted to 'Van Gaal-ise' the club."

Van Gaal visited the Lowry Hotel in Manchester during Bayern's trip to face Manchester City in the Champions League, but he told reporters he was not there to meet club officials.

"I am not here to see Bayern but Arjen Robben," the former Netherlands boss told Sport Bild. Referring to Bayern's traditional postmatch get-together, he added: "I won't attend the banquet."

Robben has a strong relationship with Van Gaal, having joined Bayern shortly after the coach in 2009 and also starred in his Netherlands team at this summer's World Cup, but he stressed in an interview with the Daily Telegraph last month that he was not seeking a move to Old Trafford.

"At the moment, there is not even one percent of me thinking about going to England or anywhere," Robben said.

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