LOUIS VAN GAAL will accept nothing less than winning the Premier League with Manchester United, claims former goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.
Van Gaal is expected to be unveiled as David Moyes’ successor next week after United relinquished their league crown with a seventh-place finish this season.
The outgoing Netherlands head coach will be tasked with bringing UEFA Champions League football back to Old Trafford with a top-four finish.
However Schmeichel, who won the Premier League and Champions League amongst other titles during his eight-year spell at United, believes Van Gaal will be aiming higher.
“The club needs a strong man to steer us back up,’ the 50-year-old says. ”We have finished seventh, so the top four is a good target to set yourself for next season.
“But Van Gaal will not want to accept the top four — he will try and win.”
While Van Gaal is yet to be confirmed as United manager, it has not stopped talk of potential transfer targets, with the club expected to invest heavily during pre-season.
Germany internationals Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich) and Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund) have been linked to United, while Luke Shaw (Southampton) is tipped to join the club as they bid to return to the summit. And Schmeichel has given the German pair his seal of approval, should they arrive in Manchester.
“United have got (Phil) Jones, (Chris) Smalling and (Jonny) Evans but going by what the media are saying, Hummels is a target,” the Dane said.
“That’s a good starting point to bring him in. He has good leadership skills and he is a fantastic defender. He’s someone we’ve been looking at for a couple of years and he’s been heavily connected with United.”
He announced this week’s ago. Also ye are reporting today that McTominnay has declared for Scotland. That was announced last week.
I downloaded the app for up to date news, not old news I’d already heard.
@Trev Gilmore: to be fair McTominay was not called up today. But yeah, the Carrick news is old
@Dave O Keeffe: *was only called up today
@Trev Gilmore: no, he didn’t. Jose did.
Underused by England and underrated by clueless fans. A top class midfielder.
@The Bloody Nine: Agree 100% (Liverpool fan here)
@Keith Synnott: me too.
A Rolls Royce of a player.
So long Michael………it was a pleasure to watch you.
@David Sinclair: only comes out for the weddings is it?!
If I recall correctly, in LVG’S first season, Carrick was out injured in the early part of the season and United were struggling by mid November. Carrick came back from injury to help steady the ship and I think they won 8 and drew 2 of the next 10 games. He would have been 32/33 back then but he was still able to show what a good player he was to help turn United’s fortunes around. He was always unappreciated by the (non United) fans and pundits in Ireland like Giles and Dunphy, particularly on Champions League nights, because he had taken the place, and the jersey, of Roy Keane. Very underrated player, still capable of doing a job if required before he retires at end of season.
@Sloop John G: Always liked Carrick as a player Sloop John, don’t support any club he played for but he was the ultimate pro, and he played in teams where box box and scoring midfielders took the plaudits, Carrick doh knitted it all together held up play left players get into position and played the pass, sounds easy but he made it look easy not a bad medal haul either, will be missed by many football fans.
His watch is nearly ended. He did a fantastic job for the club,no messing,just got on with the job.
And he just learned to pass the ball forward. A legend though with a nice family life
A fine player who hardly ever put in a poor performance, unappreciated because he was seen as Keane’s replacement which he wasn’t and could never be.
@Eamonn Ó Maoldomhnaigh: That’s a good one Eamonn, now why didn’t I think of that :-)