After agreeing to take charge of Crystal Palace in June, Frank de Boer sought advice from a former manager who has become a friend, Louis van Gaal. The 66-year-old has been a key influence on De Boer, having managed him at Ajax, Barcelona and the Dutch national team. Van Gaal offered his protégé tips for succeeding in England based on his two years at Manchester United, from which he apparently carries a curious disappointment that De Boer is determined to avoid.
“The only thing he regretted was that he played 3-4-3 in pre-season and then he lost the first game [against Swansea City in August 2014] and changed it to 4-3‑3,” says De Boer. “He regretted that, and that’s why you have to stick to your own philosophy. He did the same at Barcelona when he put Rivaldo in the No10 position; suddenly the team wasn’t the team anymore, and we went down in performance.Always stick to your own philosophy: that’s a very important lesson.”
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