Thread by @red_cafe

Some quotes from an interview former United coach Rene Meulensteen had with Norwegian newspaper VG prior to the game against Paris Saint-Germain coming up. Thanks to RedCafe newbie RedM11 for the translations.

Meulensteen: "Everyone is talking about Mauricio Pochettino. And believe me: I'm a big fan of Pochettino. He is a brilliant manager who has done a wonderful job in Tottenham. But he knows. Nothing. About. United." #manutd #mufc

Meulensteen: "Ole's lived [United]. He has experienced it on a daily basis. You can't learn that on a coaching course. There are so many who have failed, because they don't understand how big the club is. It's not a problem for Ole because he has been a part of it." #mufc #manutd

Meulensteen on Moyes removing the coaching team: "It was hard and it came as a surprise. We were first told that Moyes would keep the same coaching staff. So I wasn't worried. I thought he was smart enough to use our experience to help him understand the club." #manutd #mufc

Meulensteen continued: "But [Moyes] decided he wanted to do it in his own way. It was a very difficult situation that I don't want to talk too much about. I think he would have thought about it twice if he got the opportunity again." #manutd #mufc

Meulensteen: "I look back and am left with more questions than answers. Anyone with some common sense would say: Wait , we have won so much for so many years, we have had the best six years in the club history. Why remove everyone?" #manutd #mufc

Meulensteen continued: "It's like buying a very successful company and throwing all the staff out the door. It is very strange but that's the strategy the club chose and it hasn't worked." #manutd #mufc

Meulensteen: "I was part of the club for 12 years in all possible roles. I know the values and what makes the club tick. They have lost that identity in recent years." #manutd #mufc

Meulensteen: "United players under Mourinho were like a bunch of kids locked inside a house. They looked out the window, they could see the playground and the nice weather, but they were not allowed to go out - until someone came and opened the door. Ole has done that." #manutd

Meulensteen on what Ole has done:
"1) He has given the players the confidence back.
2) He has reminded players of the responsibility of being a Manchester United player.
3) He has reinstated the offensive United way of playing football." #manutd #mufc

Meulensteen on tactics: "Mourinho is a very pragmatic manager. He ties the players both in defense and attack. Ole, on the other hand, has taken back the elements from the Ferguson era." #manutd #mufc

Meulensteen on tactics continued: "He has from a tactical perspective said: Move the ball faster, think forward, move forward, play forward, run forward. That's all it is about. If you get the ball; set pace on the attack." #manutd #mufc

Meulensteen on if he was offered a role in coaching staff: "I have not been formally contacted. I think it because I have just signed a contract with the Australian Football Association as an assistant to the national team." #manutd #mufc

Meulensteen continued: "They have chosen to bring Mike [Phelan] back, and that is a wise decision. The most important thing for me was that they went back to the roots." #manutd #mufc

Meulensteen on if he'll be contacted if Ole gets the job: "It's a question you have to ask him. I can't answer for him. But let me put it this way: They asked Mike, but if they had asked me, it would have been very difficult to say no even though I have another job." #mufc

Meulensteen continued: "Because of the club's history and the good relationship I have with Ole. He knows me very well. He knows what to expect. We'll see what happens in the next few months." #manutd #mufc

Meulensteen: "Ole knows what [being a United manager]'s all about. There is only one answer: We have to fight for trophies. Anything else than first place is not good enough. It's the mindset he's grown up with." #manutd #mufc

Meulensteen continued: "Therefore, he will make sure that he gets the necessary support to build a team that can do it." #manutd #mufc

Meulensteen on fullbacks: "Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia are getting old. And there are mixed opinions about Luke Shaw. He is unstable. Aaron Wan-Bissaka will be on the club's wish list. On the left, Leicester player Ben Chilwell may be interesting." #manutd #mufc

Meulensteen on centreback: "They need a big, strong center-back. We had Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. A champion team needs two strong defenders and leaders." #manutd #mufc

Meulensteen continued: "I would look at Matthijs de Ligt from Ajax. He is only 19 years old, but has enormous potential. He is technically very good, he is both quick and strong - a player for the future, who can also enter and strengthen the team now." #manutd #mufc

Meulensteen on midfield: "Nemanja Matic is a good player, but he is too slow. We need someone who can move the legs and the ball quickly, dictate the tempo and at the same time maintain the balance so that Paul Pogba can attack freely." #manutd #mufc