Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele has admitted that he was left baffled by Manchester United's decision to sack Louis van Gaal.

The 28-year-old played a key role in AZ Alkmaar's 2008-09 Eredivisie title success under the Dutch manager.

"Louis van Gaal was the manager of a Premier League opponent, and he's just been sacked, but I can't say a bad word about him," he told Belgian newspaper Derniere Heure.

"He taught me a lot at AZ - his trainings, his style of play, his way of motivating us, he was a great.

"I guess he hasn't changed. Nevertheless, he suffered a difficult season at Manchester United.

"For me, that's baffling, but that's football and if I'm the footballer I am today, it's partly thanks to Van Gaal."