Football journalists have been trying to draw some emotion out of Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal ever since he arrived in the UK.
With the help of some, no doubt expensive liquor, the usually straight talking manager let his hair down at United’s player of the year awards.
With the likes of Ryan Giggs looking on van Gaal had plenty of Dutch courage on stage with an entertaining, brilliant, sometimes incoherent eight minute speech.
They say alcohol can be a truth serum and perhaps van Gaal’s insights on the season are telling.
“At that time we had 50 points, and Wayne Rooney said we go for second position on the league table. We won six games in a row, then we go to Chelsea. Who are the better team then? It’s easy to say that now.”
Then again he also said this…
“I have said that you are the best fans of the world, but I was, tonight a little bit disappointed. Yeah and I shall say why. I have seen a lady who plays the saxophone fantastically. Give her a big applause.”
Alcohol can make or break sports identities. Most of the time it makes them funny, as we’ve seen with van Gaal or it can just make you look like a goose – like Brendan Fevola at the Brownlow Medal.
Of course the end of the season is the most prevalent time for these shenanigans. This clip resurfaced this week of Channel Seven’s Natalie Barr trying in vain to seriously interview Matthew Johns after Newcastle’s 1997 premiership win over Manly. Johns’ line that winning the premiership was ‘better than lego’ was a real highlight.
In the tough world of professional sport we have to expect coaches and players to have that moment to let loose. It can be a fine line as we’ve seen with Mad Monday celebrations over the years, but when we get moments like van Gaal, Matty Johns and to a lesser extent Fev it’s very refreshing to witness against the staged, managed post-game interview.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
How can you possibly compare van Gaal's speech to Brendan Fevola's drunken gibberish. van Gaal is not a native English speaker. Most likely, English is his 3rd language or even his 4th language (Dutch, German... maybe Spanish then English) Were there any flaws in the content of van Gaal's speech? Did he speak gibberish, or was it just the occasional slurred word? Most Aussies I've met struggle with public-speaking in their native language of Strayian English.
Rob McHugh
Roar Guru
... Have you never seen a Van Gaal interview before? His nickname is the iceman. He is the most sombre, cards to the chest dude at press conferences. The last thing you expect to see in a LVG interview is some emotion. He has clearly let his hair down here. He has clearly invested heavily in Jager Bombs and the awards night is better for it. They're not making him look bad, they're having a playful laugh about it.
Rob McHugh
Roar Guru
Beat that Brendan Rodgers! Seriously, please. do it.
Alex
Guest
Sunrise and especially Barr are just as atrocious now as they were in 1997 ... interesting
hknhks
Guest
Van gaal didnt really look drunk or he wouldve said something stupid at least. theres a difference between having difficulty speaking the language and being drunk. This is just another tabloid making him look bad.
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
I think Louie may have run into this guy on the way to the bash and the drinks started flowing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMWv7oaLnlk
steve watts
Guest
Shouldn't get drunk in a televised function.
Riordan Lee
Editor
This was just spectacular. I'm not sure how 'drunk' Matty Johns was there though...I think he may be on something a little harder.