SWANSEA, Wales — In a quiet moment during the Premier League’s annual preseason meeting of head coaches a few weeks ago, Louis van Gaal of Manchester United shook hands with Garry Monk of Swansea City.
“You always beat me,” van Gaal, the veteran Dutch manager, said as Monk smiled. At 36, Monk is the second-youngest manager in the Premier League (and the least experienced as a full-time coach), yet last season he became just the third manager in league history to beat Arsenal and Manchester United home and away in the same season.
“You always beat me,” van Gaal said again before adding: “I voted for you for Manager of the Season, you know.