Bulgarian legend and former Barcelona star Hristo Stoichkov has blasted Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, labeling the 64-year-old as mediocre.

Stoichkov, a 5 time La Liga winner, left Barcelona in 1998 after a bust-up with Van Gaal. The Bulgarian has been known to launch attacks on the United boss in the past, previously branding his former boss as “scum” in an interview with French newspaper L’Equipe in March.

The 49-year-old has insisted that Louis van Gaal’s management ‘destroyed Barcelona’ and that he is doing the same under Manchester United. Stoichkov, who made 175 appearances for the Catalan side, is said to have urged Pedro not to follow Victor Valdes in joining Manchester United.

The Spain international is poised to move to Old Trafford in search of more regular game time, with his first-team opportunities at Camp Nou having been restricted last season by the sensational form of the best front three in the world, consisting of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

“I would never be under the orders of Van Gaal.” said Stoichkov. “He’s mediocre.”

“He destroyed Barca and is destroying Manchester United.”

“With what he has done to [Victor] Valdes he has shown he is a bad person. Hopefully Pedro listens to me and doesn’t leave.”

“I have no respect for him.” Stoichkov added.

“One day, when I was injured, I was with my wife at Camp Nou and Van Gaal went up to her. He asked her how it was possible that she married someone like me. She responded that I was a Ballon d’Or winner.”

“My departure in 1998 was the fault of Van Gaal, for sure.”

[All quotes sourced from Goal.com]