Louis van Gaal criticized the style of play Manchester United is playing under Jose Mourinho.

United mostly struggled during the tenure of Van Gaal, who had Mourinho as one of his assistants at Barcelona.

"I would rather watch City play than United," Van Gaal told the Mirror. "You need quality in a squad and it's clear City have a better squad.

"If you ask me how did I do at United, I will say it was my best year ever, given the circumstances I was working under.

"We played football that was quite all right. But it's not football that is appreciated in England.

"And yet, right now, looking at United, I have to conclude Mourinho is not being criticised while it's far more boring football.

"What United produce now is defensive football. I always played attacking football. The proof is that the opposition were always parking the bus.

"They don't do that now because Jose Mourinho plays so defensive."

Van Gaal said he doesn't have any issues with Mourinho the way he does with Ed Woodward.

"He [Mourinho] is not an awful man," Van Gaal said. "In fact, I think he is a sympathetic guy. He was my assistant at Barcelona.

"I worked with him and what Mourinho did [taking his job] is what often happens in football.'

"I have more problems with the CEO, Ed Woodward. He never discussed anything with me -- and you can talk about anything with me.

"With all my experience, I know the unwritten laws of football. A club has to prepare for the future.

"I can understand that and they should have approached me. Ed could talk to me but he did not.

"My wife had to find out [my firing] when she was in the lift with Woodward's family.

"They said something like: 'This is going to be awkward for Ed.' My wife had sussed them out ages ago. She warned me that something was going on.''