Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 9y

Louis van Gaal says 'Arsene Wenger is one of the best coaches of this world'

Louis van Gaal believes he could not carry on for 11 years at a club without winning a league title as Arsene Wenger has.

The Manchester United manager, who has won seven league titles in Netherlands, Spain and Germany, faces his Arsenal counterpart at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Wenger became Arsenal manager in 1996 and won the Premier League for the third time in 2004, but since then, the Gunners have never become league champions.

And Van Gaal said his determination to win trophies and work in different countries means he was never likely to have a similar career.

"I have won a lot of titles, and that was my aim," he said in a news conference. "I wanted to do it in different countries -- not only the Netherlands, but Spain and Germany and England. That is my ambition. As I said -- I am not that type. I like to win a lot."

Van Gaal ranks his predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson, who won 13 league titles and two Champions Leagues during his 26 years at Old Trafford, ahead of Wenger, but stressed he is an admirer of the Frenchman and praised him for his longevity.

"I think he is doing great work," he said. "When you can, like Sir Alex Ferguson, stay at a club for such a long time, you have to be very good, otherwise you shall not succeed.

"So I think Arsene Wenger is one of the best coaches of this world, and the same thing -- I think Sir Alex Ferguson is the best, because he won the most titles, for example.

"It easy to say that, but Arsene Wenger, when you are such a long time with one club and everybody is satisfied -- the fans, the board, the players -- then you are very good."

United are top of the Premier League and Van Gaal feels his squad have the ability to stay there.

"I think you have to believe always in this," he said. "I think the balance in our selection is much better than last year, and last year we also had the chance, so I believe in that.

"The most important thing is not only my belief, but that the players are believing in that. If we win against Arsenal, the belief shall raise a lot I think."

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