Tuesday 24 May 2016 16:18, UK
Louis van Gaal will be sorely missed by Manchester United's youngsters, according to former Red Devils' defender Jonny Evans.
United sacked Van Gaal on Monday evening after two frustrating years at the Old Trafford and is expected to be succeeded by former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
Saturday's FA Cup triumph over Crystal Palace was the Dutchman's first piece of silverware at the club and Evans expects his absence to be felt most by the group of youngsters he brought through from the academy into the United first-team squad.
Van Gaal handed Premier League debuts to a number of United's academy stars this season, including soon-to-be England international Marcus Rashord, and Evans insists his former manager is an extremely popular figure among the players at Old Trafford, despite his troubles at the club.
"I'm pleased for Van Gaal that he won the FA Cup," Evans told Sky Sports News HQ.
"I think he's a very good coach and I was pleased to see his team win something.
"A lot of players will be sad to see him leave in a way, especially the younger players.
"He's brought a lot of younger players into the squad and given them opportunities. He was very brave and very good at doing that."
Evans joined West Brom last summer after nine years at United after initially coming through their esteemed academy.
The Northern Ireland international did not feature in Van Gaal's plans and has admitted the Dutchman was perhaps not the "big personality" that United need.
With Mourinho is line to take charge before the weekend, Evans believes he could be the perfect fit at United.
"I think it's something over the years people have been expecting to happen," he said.
"He's definitely got the personality and the charisma for it. Sometimes a club like Manchester United need a big personality and Mourinho fits that bill."
