Manchester United 2014-2015

Scholes to be on coaching team?

The thoughts of King Louis: What Van Gaal said during his first meeting with the media
Jul 17, 2014 22:40. BBC news
Stuart Mathieson charts Louis van Gaal's first United press conference in detail, from the United challenge to his personality

VAN GAAL ON THE UNITED CHALLENGE
I will do my utmost best. That’s what I can give. I cannot give predictions because you never know. It’s the biggest club of the world.

Within two days, I know already how important Manchester United is but also how important the sponsors are.

I have to work, I have to prepare a team, I have to adapt to this big club.

It shall not be easy but I will do my utmost best and, when you see my career, you can see what I have won. That’s all I can say. The future shall show if I can do that again.

The owners and the CEO have a lot of confidence in me. They have come to me and I explained my philosophy and they were excited.

Because of that I’m here. We have to wait and see if I can fulfil this expectation of those people and the supporters. The fans are very important, I know that.

I’ve only been here two days. I’ve met a lot of people and when you see those kind of people who love the club, you see it’s a big family and they expect a lot from me.

They are very excited to meet me. Can I fulfil that expectation? I think I can do it. But because of the greatness of this club it’s also much more difficult than in another club.

Also, this club is also guided in the commercial way and we have to fulfil that also.

And that’s not always possible to fulfil both commercial and football. That’s my big challenge after two days.

Maybe it will be changing after the US tour, but I don’t think so!

VAN GAAL ON AMBITIONS
In the world of football you cannot predict. Nobody could have predicted the Dutch did so well at the World Cup, nobody would have predicted Germany would beat Brazil 7-1.

I have to see how the players perform my philosophy and how quick they can pick up this philosophy. Then I can answer.

Now, I haven’t worked with most of them so we have to wait and see. It’s very important there’s a click between players and the manager.

For me, the challenge is always to come first. Not fourth. But when you have to analyse after one season, it’s dependent on the click between the players and the manager.

I have never worked in the Premier League so it’s a big challenge I wanted to take. I have worked in Spain and Germany and in my time of Barcelona I think at that time the Spanish league was the best league.

And in my time in Germany we were the best league. And maybe, when I work here, the Premier League is the best league!

VAN GAAL ON UNITED
It’s the biggest club because of how well it’s known around the world. But in sport, you are never the biggest club because every season you have to be prove.

Last year, you were seventh so then you are not the biggest club. But it’s well known all over the world.

When I was in China or Brazil, people are talking about United when I was the coach of the Dutch team!

That’s the difference. There’s a lot of expectation but it’s also a great challenge because of that. Therefore, I have chosen this club.

I worked for Barcelona – in my opinion, number one in Spain. I’ve coached Ajax – number one in the Netherlands, and I’ve coached Bayern Munich – number one in Germany.

Now I’m in Manchester United – number one in England. I hope I fulfil the expectation but it shall be difficult.

VAN GAAL ON THE CLASS OF ‘92
Nicky Butt is already assisting us, Paul Scholes we shall find a role for him and also for Phil Neville, I believe. That’s what we want.

But it has to also be possible and we have to look at that.

We have to adapt to the qualities of these people. It’s not an easy job. We have to speak personally with them – that’s why we have to wait and see.

Martin Rickett/PA New Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal

LVG ON TRANSFERS
My method is always the same. I want to look at the players now, the players present. Of course I know how the players play.

But I don’t know the players under my training or coaching. In the first three or four weeks, I want to see what they can do.

Then maybe I will buy other players. The players we have bought now – Shaw and Herrera – they were already on the list. I gave my approval because I like them.

First I want to see the players performing under my philosophy.

VAN GAAL ON THE CAPTAINCY
All the players are possible candidates. I have to get to know them, so I will use four, five or six weeks. Or it could be two months.

For me, the captain’s role is very important. Therefore, I need time. Sometimes I haven’t had the time – then I have to make quick decisions. But quick decisions are not always good. I’ll use my time for it. I think a captain is very important.

VAN GAAL ON YOUTH POLICY
The owners and CEO, Ed Woodward, have asked me to give advice but the main project is the first team.

That’s more of a short-term thing than the youth - that’s a long-term project. The first year or two years we have to separate them.

Now, I need all my knowledge to transfer my philosophy into this selection. You have to give me time to do that. Not only you, but also the CEO and the owners.

VAN GAAL ON NO SUMMER HOLIDAY
It’s not allowed! Of course it was better I have a sabbatical or that I come in January. But I could not let them go when you have been asked by the biggest club in the world.

It’s a big challenge, a big ambition for me. When there is a challenge like this, I never let it go. This is a holiday for me. I like the way I can work.

Manchester United: Premier League Review. Of 1st 10 matches

http://bcove.me/rbfnh1jt

jw5 said:

Wow, Bayern now have both Juan Bernat and David Alaba.

Another good left back is Wolfsburg player and Swiss International Ricardo Rodriguez. He took set pieces including corners for the Swiss team at the world cup.

Click to expand...

Rick had an outstanding WC. He can certainly play in the middle. Just have a feeling the top transfers (costliest ones) are going to turn out to be duds.

yinyang said:

Scholes to be on coaching team?

The thoughts of King Louis: What Van Gaal said during his first meeting with the media
Jul 17, 2014 22:40. BBC news
Stuart Mathieson charts Louis van Gaal's first United press conference in detail, from the United challenge to his personality

VAN GAAL ON THE UNITED CHALLENGE
I will do my utmost best. That’s what I can give. I cannot give predictions because you never know. It’s the biggest club of the world.

Within two days, I know already how important Manchester United is but also how important the sponsors are.

I have to work, I have to prepare a team, I have to adapt to this big club.....................................................................................................

Click to expand...

Its an opportunity for Scholes. Its all part of the plan to involve ex players in the setup just like Bayern. Exciting days ahead.

Vidal in now?

http://www.caughtoffside.com/2014/0...squad-number-reserved-personal-terms-reached/

Exclusive: Man United Agree £47m Deal to Sign Arturo Vidal, Squad Number Reserved, Personal Terms Reached
by Christian Bailey July 30th, 2014

Old Trafford side set to welcome in club record signing.



Man United have seen a €60m (£47m) bid for Juventus star Arturo Vidal accepted and with the Chilean having already agreed personal terms a move to complete a club record transfer deal appears to be on the cards.

CaughtOffside understands that Old Trafford boss Louis van Gaal had pushed chief executive Ed Woodward to pull out all the stops to land the highly rated attacking midfielder with the Premier League side keen to bring a ‘Marquee’ signing to act as a real statement of intent.

Van Gaal is keen to freshen up his brittle midfield and his push for added creativity, and a genuine additional goal threat, has led Man United to make a big money move for Vidal.

The Dutch boss has been in hot pursuit of Vidal for some weeks and the departure of Antonio Conte as Juventus manager has only aided their move to bring in the former Bayer Leverkusen man.

Louis van Gaal has a long running interest in Vidal, having attempted to sign the cultured performer when he was in charge of Bayern Munich, and now seems to have won the race to bring in the Juventus man.

Vidal has been pivotal in Juventus’s three successive Serie A title wins but the club’s inability to make an impact at Champions League level may have left him open to a fresh challenge.

Though Man United do not have Champions League action to offer Vidal in 2014/15 he will have been impressed with the club’s drive to enter a new era, post Sir Alex Ferguson, with the club’s owners keen to repair the damage suffered during David Moyes’s brief reign.

Man United will hand Vidal a four year deal worth in excess of £200k a week and though a deal isn’t entirely done and dusted it is thought that the club will bring in the 27 year old in the coming days and have reserved the number seven squad number for the incoming South American.

Van Gaal has already brought in Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw from Athletic Bilbao and Southampton respectively, moves that cost around £60m, and further signings are penciled in and as such a number of the club’s expansive squad look set for summer exits in order to balance the books.

Nani, Javier Hernandez, Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young are four players van Gaal is keen to cash-in on.

The only potential obstacle to a successful move for Vidal could come from PSG, who are also said to be keen on the Juventus man.

The jury's still out on LVG. Interesting comparison vs DM

Man Utd: Louis van Gaal & David Moyes - how they differ
BBC sport By Simon Stone in Los Angeles

It is the beach trips that sum up the difference between Louis van Gaal and David Moyes.

For Moyes, a training session this time last year on Sydney's Bondi Beach midway through a week-long pre-season tour ended with Manchester United seeking refuge after word spread of United's presence on one of the world's most famous beaches. It became impossible for the session to continue.

For his replacement Van Gaal, it was a means to an end, directing the team bus half an hour out of its way - towards Santa Monica instead of straight to the hotel - after a 12-hour flight from Manchester to Los Angeles. This, he reasoned, would get the lactic acid out of his players' legs and ensure they were better prepared for the following day's training.

Two men, two beaches, two very different outcomes.

One seemed to underestimate the scale of interest in the club he had been appointed to manage, not thinking that the team's presence would attract scores of onlookers. The other was clear in his vision - he set out to accomplish a task and did exactly that.

Play mediaJump media playerMedia player helpOut of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.

Van Gaal on tactics and Ferguson
It is obvious there are aspects of Manchester United's pre-season tour of the United States that Van Gaal, vastly experienced at the highest level following stints in charge of Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and the Netherlands, would never have sanctioned had he been in place when they were arranged.

"You have to travel distances, you have to fly a lot, you also have jetlag - that is not very positive for a good preparation," he said.

Assistant manager Ryan Giggs signed off the tour schedule, although the Welshman did not arrange it.

Even the daily trip from their Beverly Hills hotel to the LA Galaxy training base 25 miles away in Carson took an hour.

Once there, the facilities were excellent, but then so were the ones Real Madrid used at the University of California - and that was only a mile from Beverly Hills, where the European champions were also staying. Distances are important in Los Angeles, where traffic is so dense.

The excessive travelling lay at the heart of Van Gaal's criticism of the club's touring schedule, which he voiced in public twice within a week of reporting for his first day as Manchester United manager on 16 July.

On neither occasion did he inform the man responsible for appointing him, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, or his commercial team that he was about to air his grievances in a forum that would ensure they were transmitted around the world.

Moyes, who sometimes appeared ill at ease in front of the cameras, tended to confide in a select few. Van Gaal, knowing the likely impact, told everyone.

No-one can be sure how the next 10 months will pan out for the 62-year-old, but there is a certainty about the Dutchman, an inner confidence which gives rise to renewed optimism among fans who have just witnessed United's worst league campaign in 24 years.

Manchester United pre-season tour

Wed, 23 Jul v Los Angeles Galaxy
LA Galaxy 0-7 Man Utd

Sat, 26 Jul v AS Roma (Denver)
Man Utd 3-2 Roma

Wed, 30 Jul v Inter Milan (Washington)
Utd won 5-3 on pens (0-0 after 90 mins)

Sat, 2 Aug v Real Madrid (Michigan)

Mon, 4 Aug v International Champions Cup final (Miami)

"We need to have a strong manager to have a strong club," said fan Paul Brane, from Stevenage - one of the hardy souls who, recognising there will be no European football at Old Trafford in the coming campaign, travelled to Denver to see his team overcome AS Roma in the second match of the tour.

"Twelve months ago I was prepared to give David Moyes every chance. But, looking back, he should never have been appointed.

"He is a decent man by all accounts, but as manager of Manchester United, he was clearly out of his depth."

Van Gaal is not. He has stated his opinion that Manchester United are the biggest club in the world.

Van Gaal vents over Man Utd schedule
However, as he also points out, he has been in charge of "the number one side in Holland" - Ajax, "the number one side in Spain" - Barcelona, and "the number one side in Germany" - Bayern Munich. And that is without mentioning his two stints in charge of the Netherlands whom he led to third place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

There is an aura about him that exudes authority.

As is normal in such situations, the non-playing members of United's squad did a running session after the 3-2 win over AS Roma.

Under the watchful eye of fitness coach Tony Strudwick, a group made up of Anders Lindegaard, Darren Fletcher, Javier Hernandez and Wilfried Zaha pushed themselves through a series of shuttle runs and sprints.

United in training on their pre-season tour of the United States
Within half an hour, they were heading back to the changing rooms for a shower. A couple of minutes later they were out again, sent to the gym for more work that lasted an additional 15 minutes.

Those concerned were clearly surprised at this addition to their workload. At least one looked annoyed, but no-one challenged Van Gaal's authority.

"With my direct character, I say things as they are," he said. "It can be good and it can also be worse."

United's players have already had an insight into their manager's approach. Though a joviality is often present, he rounds on anyone not carrying out their duties to his satisfaction.

In an open training session ahead of that first game in LA, Chris Smalling and Fletcher were among those singled out for the most forceful of demands - why, Van Gaal wanted to know, were they not looking at the ball when executing their shooting practice?

And goalkeeper Ben Amos was unlikely to be feeling good about himself in the dressing room following the Roma game.

He had just suffered the embarrassment of conceding a goal from 60 yards, struck by Miralem Pjanic, that went straight over his head and into the net without bouncing.

If he was looking for a lift from his manager, he did not get it.

"In four seconds I can run 50 metres, so what do you think?" said Van Gaal when asked if Amos was at fault.

Javier Hernandez is one of the players who faces an uncertain future under Louis van Gaal. That no-nonsense approach will help him in one aspect of the job - reducing the size of a squad that, by common consensus at United, was too big last season.

There have been departures - Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra among the most notable - but this year there are no midweek Champions League nights to offer Van Gaal scope to switch his team around.

He has said he will spend a couple of weeks assessing his squad before deciding who he needs - and who can be jettisoned.

It is evident he has too many forwards, and Shinji Kagawa and Javier Hernandez would seem most vulnerable.

"We have four number 10s, so it is not balanced in my eyes," he said last week.

His midfield and central defence have been questioned. New signing Luke Shaw has been training on his own because Van Gaal thinks the 19-year-old is not fit enough.

And what of Marouane Fellaini, Moyes' only signing of last summer? A move to Napoli has been suggested for the Belgian, although United sources say there has been no contact.

Van Gaal, who is unlikely to get his way over his dislike of long-distance travelling for tours because of the commercial benefits to the club, will be allowed to do it his way when it comes to the playing squad.

One aspect of managing Manchester United which undermined Moyes towards the end of his time at Old Trafford, was the fact his words tended to be dissected to highlight signs of weakness.

There was scorn from some fans when they heard the Scot admit old rivals Liverpool were favourites for a game at Old Trafford. It was the kind of statement that might even be true, but saying it seemed to be a step too far for the supporters.

By the end, they were sick of hearing United would "try their best" to win matches. "What was all that about?" said Brane. "Everton might try. Manchester United don't try, they do it."

Van Gaal should have no such problems. If he suffers from insecurity, he does a pretty good job of disguising it.

Before the World Cup, as speculation about his appointment grew, he called one English reporter "stupid" for asking what he felt was a ridiculous question.

And in his first United news conference he cut down another in equally forthright manner for putting forward a question he believed had already been answered.

"You know that, why do you ask?" came the reply.

But perhaps the most telling difference between Van Gaal and Moyes was hidden away in the small print.

A 16-minute interview he gave to a couple of members of the broadcast media ran to 1,180 words.

The word "try" was not used once.

Manchester United defeat Real Madrid 3-1 in front of record crowd



Manchester United defeated European champions Real Madrid 3-1 in front of a record US crowd of 109,318 in Michigan.

Two goals from Ashley Young and one from Javier Hernandez secured new United manager Louis van Gaal his fourth win of the US summer tour.

Gareth Bale's penalty was all Real could muster in reply, even after the second-half introduction of former United star Cristiano Ronaldo.

United now face Liverpool in Monday's International Champions Cup final. Van Gaal has presided over wins against the Los Angles Galaxy, Roma and Inter Milan in the United States.

United will now meet their great English rivals, who qualified for the final after Manchester City lost 5-4 on penalties to Olympiakos following a 2-2 draw in Minneapolis, in Miami.

The University of Michigan's stadium played host to the largest ever crowd at a football match in the US
Real's starting line-up at the Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor was missing not only Ronaldo but also new signings Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez.

But the likes of Bale, Luka Modric and Xabi Alonso were on show in front of the largest ever attendance for a football match in the United States.

Young opened the scoring after 21 minutes but Carlo Ancelotti's Real were level six minutes later when Michael Keane climbed on Bale in the area and the Wales international tucked away the resulting spot-kick. United regained the lead on 37 minutes when Young's cross drifted over the head of Iker Casillas.

Ronaldo's introduction against his former team with 17 minutes remaining grabbed the attention of the huge crowd, but United sealed victory moments later as Hernandez made it three.

The previous record attendance for a football match in the United States was 101,799 for the 1984 Olympic final, when France beat Brazil 2-0 at the Rose Bowl in California.





Manchester United: De Gea, M Keane, Jones, Evans (Blackett 46), Valencia (Lingard 62), Herrera (Cleverley 46), Fletcher, Young (Shaw 46); Mata (Kagawa 62), Rooney (Hernandez 62), Welbeck (Zaha 41).

Real Madrid: Casillas; Ramos, Pepe, Nacho, Arbeloa (Ronaldo 74), Illarmendi, Alonso (De Tomas 56), Carvajal, Modric, Bale, Isco.

Going, soon to be gone for Hernandez and Kagawa to AM?

Atlético want Manchester United’s Javier Hernández and Shinji Kagawa• Manchester United pair would bring in £25m
• Louis van Gaal keen to trim his squad
The Guardian, Monday 4 August 2014 22.30 BST

Louis van Gaal’s attempts to rebuild Manchester United’s squad are likely to be accelerated this week, with Atlético Madrid ready to launch a bid to sign Javier Hernández and Shinji Kagawa.

United finished off their pre-season tour of the United States with a match against Liverpool at the Sun Life Stadium and Van Gaal has indicated key decisions on who will remain at Old Trafford are to be made in the next seven days.

While doubts remain over Marouane Fellaini, Nani and Anderson, all of whom had hugely difficult seasons playing for David Moyes last time round, the resolution of Hernández’s and Kagawa’s futures look more clear-cut.

Both players have been on the fringes in the past two weeks and Atlético, the La Liga winners and Champions League runners-up, are looking to rebuild their squad after losing Diego Costa and Filipe Luís to Chelsea. Defender Javier Manquillo is also poised to join Liverpool and the manager, Diego Simeone, wants Kagawa and Hernández in a deal which would total in excess of £25m.

Kagawa knows his opportunities are very limited after being told by Van Gaal that given his new 3-5-2 system, unless the 25 year-old wants to play out wide – a position which does not suit him – he may not have a future at Old Trafford. The Japanese wants to play as a No10 – a role which Van Gaal would prefer to fill with one of Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata or the Belgian teenager Adnan Januzaj.

Kagawa’s former club, Borussia Dortmund, had shown an appetite to bring him back to Germany after he made only 14 Premier League starts last season, but their interest is believed to have cooled.

Hernández is also preparing to be told his future lies elsewhere with Rooney, Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck all believed to be ahead of the Mexico striker when it comes to Van Gaal’s striking options. The 26-year-old started only six times in the Premier League for United last season and Simeone is keen to fill the gaps at Atlético left by the departures of David Villa and Costa, despite the arrival of Mario Mandzukic and Antoine Griezmann.

The situation with Fellaini, who struggled so badly after arriving from Everton for £28m, is more complex. He will return to United’s Carrington base after some impressive displays for Belgium at the World Cup and is wanted by Rafael Benítez at Napoli. The Serie A club cannot afford either his wages or a transfer fee and would like a loan, something which does not appeal to United. The midfielder is nervously awaiting Van Gaal’s verdict before deciding on his next move.

“I shall make judgments after this tour,” Van Gaal said. “I let all the players play and I know now more than before the tour. Now also it is a little bit soon to judge but in football you have to judge. You have to give a chance to the player to make a transfer when I see that his prospects to play are not so high. You have to say it in advance because it’s too late after 31 August. I will tell players after the tour but to them not to you [reporters].”

Naturally in Miami, where there is a huge football-loving Hispanic community, there is great focus on Hernández yet Van Gaal, tellingly, was unwilling to be drawn when asked about the striker’s qualities and future at United.

“I think the striker has the biggest chance to score so that it is not the reason why a player plays,” he said. “We are playing like a team and the team scores. I don’t make individual evaluations because we are playing with a team not individual players. When I say something about an individual specifically, always my words shall be translated differently.”

Fellaini, together with Januzaj and Van Persie, were all given added time off following their exploits at the World Cup and remain doubtful for the start of the season. “I have to look at Robin van Persie when he comes back,” Van Gaal added. “But if you have three weeks’ holiday and only four days’ training before the friendly versus Valencia next Tuesday, you are not fit enough. For the first game in the Premier League it’s possible to play, but I don’t think so.”

Pics from win over scousers :p