Ángel Di María has openly criticized Louis van Gaal, naming him the worst manager he has ever worked under during an interview with ESPN Argentina. Di María's tenure at Manchester United in the 2014-2015 season, where he struggled under Van Gaal's management, has remained a sour point in his otherwise illustrious career. Despite his negative experience with Van Gaal, Di María praised his current national team coach Lionel Scaloni as one of the best, having led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup. He also expressed admiration for Alejandro Sabella and the late Diego Maradona, describing Maradona as more of a supportive friend than a traditional coach. Di María's criticisms of Van Gaal are not new, as he has made similar remarks in the past, including ahead of the Netherlands-Argentina match in the 2022 World Cup. His recent comments come as he continues his career with Benfica after retiring from international football following the Copa América 2024.