LOUIS VAN GAAL had a glint in his eye this weekend when he told journalists to “watch” Manchester United in 2015 – and the Dutchman’s optimism is well merited given the level of improvement since he took over from David Moyes in the summer.
The Moyes disaster was summed up by his start to 2014, losing to Tottenham on New Year’s Day before being dumped out of both domestic cups in January.
The feeling around the club is very different this year and while a title challenge looks beyond United this season, they are already setting up for next term, when the manager believes we will see “a true Louis Van Gaal team”.
The embarrassing opening day defeat to Swansea and the humiliating 4-0 loss to MK Dons in the Capital One Cup feel a long time ago at the halfway point in the season, with United third in the Premier League table and looking well set to finish in the top four.
Van Gaal’s minimum requirement this season is to qualify for the Champions League after last summer’s sensational spending spree as they looked to spend their way out of the hole dug by Moyes.
The Dutchman is showing why United appointed him.
He inherited a situation that required a manager who had the experience to handle the pressure, the know-how to stabalise a club, the coaching ability to introduce an identifiable style of play to the team.
Van Gaal was already a legendary coach and from his first day has never looked fazed by the challenge of leading United having already managed the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
The 63-year-old is living his dream having previously declared that he would retire after the World Cup if he did not secure a job with a top Premier League club.
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Van Gaal was deeply tempted by talks with Tottenham earlier in the year and courted the Londoners just as much as they chased him.
But once the United job became a possibility, it was the only place Van Gaal wanted to be.
Unlike Moyes, has not been phased at all by the task and has carried himself in a manner you would expect from the manager of the 20-time champions. He is here to win titles over his three-year contract, not to sneak into the top four.
After the goalless draw with Tottenham on Sunday, he expressed his frustration that his team could not secure the three points and told the players that they need to win such matches to become champions.
His level of expectation draws a stark contrast with his predecessor, who would talk of ‘making it difficult’ for the visit of a side like Newcastle to Old Trafford.
Van Gaal did get the backing in the transfer market that Moyes felt he was denied but he would argue that the squad’s crippling injury list has negated much of the impact.
Against Spurs, British record signing Angel Di Maria missed out through injury as did fellow summer arrivals Daley Blind, Ander Herrera and Marcos Rojo.
But that did not step them from producing their best half of the season in the opening 45 minutes, when they could easily have come in three or four goals ahead at the break.
Van Gaal has spoken consistently about the need to ‘dominate’ games and United were in total control, carving Tottenham open at will. For once, for a team that has been so clinical in front of goal, the final touch was missing.
But the manager will take great heart from such a performance away against a top four rival, with his work on the training ground clearly paying off not only in their use of the ball, but also their defensive organisation.
He has always promoted himself as a coach, someone that will work to improve players and teams on the training ground, and that has been evident this season.
A back three of Paddy McNair, Phil Jones and Jonny Evans looks suspect but they were solid against Tottenham and seemed comfortable with the Van Gaal’s formation and tactics.
Van Gaal has tinkered with various formations, moved Wayne Rooney into midfield and been forced to put players out of position due to injuries, but he has usually come up with the right answer.
When brave decisions have been needed, Van Gaal has made them. The tactical substitution of McNair before half-time in the victory at Southampton earlier this month is one such example.
McNair has been joined in the first-team frame this season by fellow academy graduates Tyler Blackett and James Wilson, with Van Gaal showing that he will pick teams on meritocracy and not reputation.
It is why Manchester United supporters are feeling optimistic about the future with Van Gaal at the helm and money to spend on new players, with a central defender the top priority.
Van Gaal is confident that United will continue to improve in the New Year and challenge for a 21st Premier League title next season.
At the current rate of progress, it would be hard to argue against him.
Why Van Gaal & United is a perfect marriage... and the best is yet to come in 2015
LOUIS VAN GAAL had a glint in his eye this weekend when he told journalists to “watch” Manchester United in 2015 – and the Dutchman’s optimism is well merited given the level of improvement since he took over from David Moyes in the summer.
The Moyes disaster was summed up by his start to 2014, losing to Tottenham on New Year’s Day before being dumped out of both domestic cups in January.
The feeling around the club is very different this year and while a title challenge looks beyond United this season, they are already setting up for next term, when the manager believes we will see “a true Louis Van Gaal team”.
The embarrassing opening day defeat to Swansea and the humiliating 4-0 loss to MK Dons in the Capital One Cup feel a long time ago at the halfway point in the season, with United third in the Premier League table and looking well set to finish in the top four.
Van Gaal’s minimum requirement this season is to qualify for the Champions League after last summer’s sensational spending spree as they looked to spend their way out of the hole dug by Moyes.
The Dutchman is showing why United appointed him.
He inherited a situation that required a manager who had the experience to handle the pressure, the know-how to stabalise a club, the coaching ability to introduce an identifiable style of play to the team.
Van Gaal was already a legendary coach and from his first day has never looked fazed by the challenge of leading United having already managed the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
The 63-year-old is living his dream having previously declared that he would retire after the World Cup if he did not secure a job with a top Premier League club.
Van Gaal was deeply tempted by talks with Tottenham earlier in the year and courted the Londoners just as much as they chased him.
But once the United job became a possibility, it was the only place Van Gaal wanted to be.
Unlike Moyes, has not been phased at all by the task and has carried himself in a manner you would expect from the manager of the 20-time champions. He is here to win titles over his three-year contract, not to sneak into the top four.
After the goalless draw with Tottenham on Sunday, he expressed his frustration that his team could not secure the three points and told the players that they need to win such matches to become champions.
His level of expectation draws a stark contrast with his predecessor, who would talk of ‘making it difficult’ for the visit of a side like Newcastle to Old Trafford.
Van Gaal did get the backing in the transfer market that Moyes felt he was denied but he would argue that the squad’s crippling injury list has negated much of the impact.
Against Spurs, British record signing Angel Di Maria missed out through injury as did fellow summer arrivals Daley Blind, Ander Herrera and Marcos Rojo.
But that did not step them from producing their best half of the season in the opening 45 minutes, when they could easily have come in three or four goals ahead at the break.
Van Gaal has spoken consistently about the need to ‘dominate’ games and United were in total control, carving Tottenham open at will. For once, for a team that has been so clinical in front of goal, the final touch was missing.
But the manager will take great heart from such a performance away against a top four rival, with his work on the training ground clearly paying off not only in their use of the ball, but also their defensive organisation.
He has always promoted himself as a coach, someone that will work to improve players and teams on the training ground, and that has been evident this season.
A back three of Paddy McNair, Phil Jones and Jonny Evans looks suspect but they were solid against Tottenham and seemed comfortable with the Van Gaal’s formation and tactics.
Van Gaal has tinkered with various formations, moved Wayne Rooney into midfield and been forced to put players out of position due to injuries, but he has usually come up with the right answer.
When brave decisions have been needed, Van Gaal has made them. The tactical substitution of McNair before half-time in the victory at Southampton earlier this month is one such example.
McNair has been joined in the first-team frame this season by fellow academy graduates Tyler Blackett and James Wilson, with Van Gaal showing that he will pick teams on meritocracy and not reputation.
It is why Manchester United supporters are feeling optimistic about the future with Van Gaal at the helm and money to spend on new players, with a central defender the top priority.
Van Gaal is confident that United will continue to improve in the New Year and challenge for a 21st Premier League title next season.
At the current rate of progress, it would be hard to argue against him.
By Greg Stobart, Goal.com
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