Louis van Gaal blasts Jose Mourinho over Bastian Schweinsteiger treatment

London, March 1: Former Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal has hit out at his successor Jose Mourinho over his treatment of Germany legend Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Schweinsteiger was picked to Old Trafford from Bayern Munich by Van Gaal in 2015 in a cut-price deal.

However, problems with fitness and form prevented the veteran player from making a significant impression in the Premier League. And after the Dutch's sacking the very year, Van Gaal's heir Mourinho gradually frozen out the player in the next season.

The former German Captain was sent to train with the reserves and was not allowed to feature in a single Premier League match in the 2016/17 season as he made it to the bench only four occasions.

The centre-midfielder although made three appearances under Mourinho, two in FA Cup and one in EFL Cup but later made a switch to Chicago Fire that same season in January.

However, now Van Gaal has expressed his bitterness at the manner in which he was departed.

The former Barcelona, Ajax boss who also coached Schweinsteiger at Bayern, has admitted the player wasn't the midfield force of nature he used to be when United got him, however, suggested Mourinho failed to show the German legend the true respect he deserved.

"Schweinsteiger was older, of course, but not too old," Van Gaal told Sport Bild. "Still, his body was not able to keep up with the high demands of Premier League.

"Bayern sold him to us as fit player, but, in reality, physically he had reached the end.

"How Mourinho treated him after me, Schweini did not deserve this. But it also explains how things were with Schweinsteiger.

"It's a shame because he is a player like Luis Enrique, Mark van Bommel or Philipp Lahm, a character always present on the pitch."

Van Gaal was sacked after two years at Old Trafford and spending around £250million in which he could only produce a top-four finish and an FA Cup win whereas Schweinsteiger made only 35 appearances over one and half season at Old Trafford, scoring twice and assisting thrice.