New season, new game for van Gaal

Louis van Gaal has dismissed comparisons with the 2010 Champions League final when his Bayern Munich side meets Inter Milan on Wednesday.

The two clubs squared off in last season’s decider, with Serie A champions Inter emerging 2-0 winners at Madrid’s Bernabeu arena.

They meet again in the first leg of a round-of-16 tie in the same competition on Wednesday at the San Siro, but van Gaal has denied retribution was in the forefront of his mind going into the match.

“For me, this match is not comparable to last year’s final,” he said.

“And I also think our team has changed. Six or seven players are not there anymore and we are playing with a different line up. It might be still in the heads of some players, but for me it doesn’t matter.”

“If they are playing for Bayern Munich they have to know that we always have to win. But we don’t always succeed. And that is part of the sport.”

But despite Bayern’s altered side, the Dutchman is confident he knows what to expect from Inter: “I don’t think Inter has changed that much. A few players are injured. (Diego) Milito is injured. Lucio is or has been injured. All the players are still there and they have signed a few more, so I don’t think Inter has changed a great deal,” he said.

“The manager has changed, not only once, but twice. And that is probably their biggest change.”