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Louis Van Gaal: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t

Louis Van Gaal

What he said:

“It’s very important for a club such as Manchester United to have guardians of its culture.”

Manchester United’s new coach, Louis Van Gaal, hopes that the culture of the club will be retained with the introduction of fresh blood—youngsters—who have the ethos of the club ingrained in their DNA.

“Every youth player who comes through can be a guardian. The ‘Class of 92’ [Beckham, Butt, Giggs, Neville and Scholes] were guardians of the club’s culture. You need very good youth education so you have always more players who can become guardians.

Wayne Rooney is also a guardian of this culture now as captain and he can transfer this culture to his fellow players.”

Van Gaal intends to repeat his success in creating fresh cores at his former clubs with United.

He said:

“I did it with Barcelona where I gave debuts to Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta, [Carles] Puyol and [Victor] Valdes. At Bayern Munich, we had [Holger] Badstuber, [Thomas] Muller and [David] Alaba who can guard the culture. I also want to do that here but the youth players have to take their chance when they receive it.”

What he really meant:

“Organizational culture cannot be created overnight. It is a gradual process and MU’s vision, values, norms, systems, symbols, language, assumptions, beliefs, and habits will be imbibed by the players and affect the way they perceive, think and even feel.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“In simpler terms, I need easily influenced youth who I can then brainwash.”

Maria Sharapova: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she said:

"I don’t have any regrets about being 24."

Maria Sharapova is enjoying her status as one of the elder stateswomen on the WTA tour.The Russian has won three majors in her eight years and is one of the favourites for this year’s Wimbledon.

What she really meant:

“I’m 24 and I’m old. So what?”

What she definitely didn’t:

“I feel like I’m a 100 years old.”

Graeme Swann: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“I was getting paid to play crosswords, having tea brought to me and having my every whim taken care of. It was brilliant.”

Graeme Swann, ruminating on the perks , believes that representing England in cricket is the best job in the world.

What he really meant:

“I’m grateful I’m a cricketer, not a typical nine-to-fiver.I’m really spoilt.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I’m pitching cricket—as a profession.”

Li Na: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she said:

“I’m not old. Why do you think I’m old? I feel I’m still young."

Li Na is not old—according to her—on the WTA Tour.

What she really meant:

“Age is a state of mind.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“I’m a spring chicken.”

Indian cricket: Tendulkar seeks the next level, Gambhir bats for Kirsten

 

Image via Wikipedia

It’s true that geniuses and champions are never satisfied with what they have achieved.

They are always thinking of the next level, the next summit, the next goal.

They dare not rest on their laurels.

There’s always the next mountain to climb, the next peak to scale.

And so it is with Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

14,000 Test runs in test cricket, over 30,000 international runs and 49 Test centuries to his credit.

Yet, the gentleman talks about yearning to reach the next level.

"I’m really focusing now on how I can get to the next level as a batsman. How can I get even more competitive? How can I get even more consistent? How can I get better?"

What else does Tendukar have to say in his interview to The Guardian?

On dreaming, Tendulkar has this to say:

"Life would be flat without dreams. I think it’s really important to dream — and then to chase those dreams.”

2010 has been Tendulkar’s best year in recent times, reminding us of the young Sachin, unburdened by the cares of the team and varied niggling injuries.

Tendulkar is also back at the top of the ICC rankings, the first time since 2002.

It is said that all’s well with the world when Tendulkar is in full flow and so it is for cricket fans.

The full interview will be published this Saturday.

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