Van Gaal set for shock Barca return?
BARCELONA, May 7 (Reuters) - What appeared at first to be just a piece of mischievous speculation is gaining what could be unstoppable momentum, with Spanish newspapers reporting on Tuesday that Louis van Gaal is set to return as Barcelona coach.
Van Gaal won two league titles in three years as Barca coach from 1997-2000 but his time in Catalunya was marked by rows with players and relentless criticism from media and fans, who found it difficult to accept the former schoolteacher's prickly style.
He is currently out of a job after failing to qualify the Dutch national team for the World Cup.
The Catalan daily Sport first raised the possibility of a comeback a couple of days after Barcelona's humiliating defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal at the Nou Camp last month.
The news was greeted with scepticism in Barcelona, although current coach Carles Rexach, who will help choose his own successor at the end of the season, did not reject the idea completely.
'It sounds to me like a way of sounding out the public,' Rexach said at the time. 'A lot of coaches have come back for a second spell.'
The van Gaal trail went cold for a few days before a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu confirmed the club's European Cup exit to their great rivals.
Speculation over possible candidates to replace Rexach has been hotting up ever since and on Tuesday three of the country's four national sports newspapers said that club president Joan Gaspart was preparing to announce van Gaal's appointment.
Sport carried the most detailed report, saying that Gaspart had spoken with van Gaal on Sunday and taken the decision to offer the post to the Dutchman despite likely opposition from supporters and some of the club's directors.
Barcelona said on Tuesday the club would not comment on any rumours regarding the position of coach. 'When there's any news it will be announced officially by the club,' a spokesman said.
The Dutchman's return would be a huge gamble for Gaspart, who took over from Josep Lluis Nunez just after van Gaal's departure and has since presided over two seasons without a trophy.
Few Barcelona fans were sorry to see the van Gaal leave in May 2000 after a fractious spell in charge.
But the Dutchman did lead the side to a Spanish league and cup double in his first season, a successful defence of the championship the following year and second place in the table, plus a run to the semifinals of the Champions League, in his final campaign.
Since his departure, Barcelona's form has dipped alarmingly, as first Llorenc Serra Ferrer and then Rexach have failed to build on van Gaal's work.
Under Rexach, the side reached the last four in the Champions League once again this season but their league form has been poor, despite a massive outlay on players.
Source:
www.soccernet.com
