Barcelona legend Hristo Stoichkov has launched a stinging attack on current Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal.
The former Bulgarian forward played for one season, the 1997/98 campaign, under Van Gaal at the Camp Nou and has been left with a lasting impression of the Dutchman which does not reflect positively on the Red Devils boss.
Indeed, one incident which stands out for Stoichkov involves a comment Van Gaal made to his wife.
The Bulgarian told L'Equipe: "I have no respect for him, he is rubbish.
"One day when I was injured and I was with my wife at the Camp Nou, he went towards her and asked her how it was possible to be married to someone like me. She replied to him that I had won the Ballon d'Or."
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Stoichkov eventually left Barcelona in 1998 to sign for CSKA Sofia and the former forward pins the blame for his departure squarely on Van Gaal.
"Yes, it is certain it was Van Gaal's fault [that I left]", the 49-year-old explained.
Stoichkov won five La Liga titles, one European Cup, one Copa del Rey, one European Cup Winners' Cup, three Spanish Super Cups and two UEFA Super Cups over two separate spells at Barcelona.
He won the Ballon d'Or in 1994, while in the same year he won the Golden Shoe at the World Cup in the United States.
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