EUROPEAN PAPER REVIEW: Louis van Gaal and Guus Hiddink clash, Rafael Benitez facing “crucial week” and Arsenal target Chicharito

Andy Mitten rounds up what the European newspapers are reporting including the showdown between Louis van Gaal and Guus Hiddink.

The clash between Louis van Gaal and Guus Hiddink dominates the front pages of today’s Dutch newspapers.

The Dutch Algermeen Dagblad has a picture of the Manchester United and Chelsea managers on the cover under the headline: “Day of Revenge” it claims: “Hiddink can give LvG the last push.”

In De Telegraf, there’s a picture of Hiddink waving and Van Gaal looking strained. “Is Hiddink waving Van Gaal out?” is the accompanying text.

Further analysis opines that Van Gaal has bought the wrong players in his time at Old Trafford and states: ‘Failing Van Gaal must stop moaning’. Further phrases include: ‘Sack of weak actor in the hands of rival Hiddink’ and ‘Hiddink visits out of control Manchester in an excellent moment.’

The Netherlands will be tuning in like fans around the world to see how the two coaches, who have no love lost between them, will do.

European football has entered a brief hibernation. Without games, non-stories become news stories, where features on the madness of the Premier League playing four games in ten days proliferate, while award ceremonies you’ve never heard of suddenly become newsworthy.

Barcelona were feted in Dubai for the being the best team ever. Or something like that. Their players have returned to training after a curtailed Spanish winter break which has been cut by four days this season.

When he was manager at Real Sociedad, David Moyes felt they’d got this wrong. “Players do need a break,” he explained. “I like football in the festive period, so maybe that break should be in January for a week or two. It would allow South American players a week back home. It’s not good for a player used to breaks to come and play four games in 10 days and in my own experience they get injured. So I’m surprised that Spain has changed the winter break this year and reduced it. They’ve got it wrong and the Spanish team could suffer in Euro 2016 if their players don’t rest as they’re used to.”

Moyes’ former club Real Sociedad visit the Bernabeu on Wednesday and make the cover of AS, where the future of Rafa Benitez is headline news in Monday’s newspaper.

“Benitez is facing a crucial week,” it reads. “On Wednesday La Real visit the Bernabeu and on Sunday they travel to Valencia.” That’s an equally big game for the Nevilles, Gary and Phil.

As the Bundesliga entered its annual “Winterpause”, the German football press turned its collective attention to one of its favourite British traditions – Boxing Day football.

“The magic of Boxing Day!” exclaimed BILD, “Christmas is a festival of love – and football! At least in England!” The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung called the full Boxing Day schedule a “Christmas blessing” and told its readers that “Football is as integral to the holiday period in England as stuffed turkey and flaming Christmas pudding.”

Subject to particular attention in Germany are the fortunes of Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool – the perfect combination of eccentric manager and traditional cult club in the eyes of many German football fans.

“Klopp breaks league leaders’ spell” said BILD after the German’s side condemned leaders Leicester to only their 2nd defeat of the season, whilst Der Spiegel believed the win was a “well deserved success after hard work” at Anfield.

Eurosport.de asked “What do the reigning English champions, last year’s runners up and the current league leaders have in common?” answering: “None of them stood a chance when faced with top-team killer Jürgen Klopp.”

Die Welt were less complimentary though, criticising Liverpool for “dreadful chance conversion” and stating that “the club would easily be in the top three if they had converted just a fraction of their chances.”

The most glaring example to date of course came in stoppage time in front of the Kop on Saturday. “Unbelievable! Liverpool miss open goal!” screamed BILD as Christian Benteke somehow failed to score when faced with a gaping net and supported by three teammates.

Also under the spotlight in Germany is former Bayern Munich manager Louis van Gaal and his travails at Manchester United. “Was that it for Louis Van Gaal?” wondered Kicker after Der Spiegel reported “Crisis at Manchester United gets bigger”.

Sportschau described the Dutchman as “just as clueless and helpless as his players. No ideas, no courage, no goals” after United’s 5th defeat in a row in all competitions away at Stoke. Looking ahead to today’s visit of Chelsea to Old Trafford, Die Welt on Sunday said it’s “all or nothing – Van Gaal’s last chance.”

FOCUS magazine took a different angle, stating: “If Van Gaal goes, Schweinsteiger has a problem”, adding that the German’s performances so far have not been enough for “a man who for years was one of the most dangerous goal-scoring midfielders in the Bundesliga”.

Should Van Gaal leave (a question of “how rather than if” for FOCUS), one potential candidate remains Pep Guardiola, despite most reports linking him to Manchester City.

In an interview in Sunday’s Blick however, ex-Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said “Bayern have no reason to be disappointed” that Guardiola is leaving and criticised the Catalan for being obsessed with tactics “day and night” to the detriment of personal relationships with his players.

As the January transfer window approaches, Sportal.de reported that “Louis Van Gaal is hunting Mainz 05 star Yoshinori Muto”, a story repeated in France with Les Échos adding that “Sir Alex Ferguson is said to have recommended the former FC Tokyo player to the Mancunian directors.” The striker has scored seven goals in 17 appearances for Mainz this season.

Also in France, France Football reported on Arsène Wenger’s aims in January with the headline “Arsenal target Chicharito.” “Big headache for Arsenal” said l’Équipe after Arsenal’s 4-0 defeat to Southampton as the Gunners missed the chance to go top. “Rémi Garde still without a win”, the magazine added as the Frenchman’s Aston Villa side drew 1-1 at home to West Ham.