Louis van Gaal is 'scum': Former Barcelona star Hristo Stoichkov blames Manchester United boss for departure in 1998

Bulgarain legend blames Van Gaal for Barcelona exit in 1998

(Getty Images)

Former Barcelona star Hristo Stoichkov has branded Louis van Gaal as "scum" for the way the Dutch coach treated the Bulgarian during their time at Barcelona.

Stoichkov, one of the best players of the 1990s, had two spells at the Nou Camp, scoring 118 goals for the club in 254 appearances.

But speaking over the weekend he blames Manchester United boss Van Gaal for his exit from the club in 1998 stating that he had "no respect".

"I have no respect for him, he's scum," he is quoted as saying in L'Equipe.

Louis van Gaal at Barcelona in 1999 (Getty Images)

One day, when I was injured, I was with my wife at Camp Nou and Van Gaal went up to her.

"He asked her how it was possible that she married someone like me. She responded that I was a Ballon d'Or winner.

"My departure in 1998 was the fault of Van Gaal, for sure."

Stoichkov returned to Bulgaria with CSKA Sofia before taking up lucrative offers in the Middle East and then the US.

The Bulgarian helped Barcelona to four consecutive titles in his first spell at the club, under another Dutch legend, Johan Cruyff.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was an assistant at the club at the time, under Sir Bobby Robson and Stoickhov had an opposing opinion on the Portuguese.

"I do not think that Mourinho was a simple interpreter or assistant," he added. "He was already a coach, but he never thought he was worth more than [Bobby] Robson.

"Mourinho understood everything. He knew everything about our team, and our opponents."