Exclusive: Van Gaals first interview Louis van Gaal speaks exclusively to MUTV in his first interview as boss... How does it feel to be manager of Manchester United? I am very honoured and proud, especially as I made my first steps as a manager with Sir Bobby Charlton. I was a fan of him, and I am old enough to have seen him play for United so it was an honour for me to speak to him and make my first steps with with him at the Theatre of Dreams. Youve been here before, but what was it like walking into the ground as boss? It wasnt my first time, I have also been here with other clubs, but that was a dream for me. It is not only the Theatre of Dreams but it was also the dream of Louis van Gaal to be the manager of such a big club as Manchester United. I want to taste the atmosphere in the Premier League, and where better to do that than at United? What have you made of the facilities at the club? Its unbelievable how many people are working for the same goal. Its also a family, everybodys proud to work for United. Thats the feeling I have and its fantastic. But the [facilities] need a little more intimacy, and that is something I have asked for already because now its an open field, and there is always wind, and wind is not always the friend of the players and not always the friend of the ball. So we have to do something about that. But the facilities are fantastic. You come here straight from the World Cup - what was that experience like? This was also a dream, because I had the chance 12 years ago, but I had failed. So it was also a dream to participate in a World Cup. It was fantastic, we were nearly first, we never lost a game. The result was fantastic, and nobody thought that we could do that. My participation in that World Cup was a dream, we fulfilled the expectations of the Dutch people. They are very happy because I also think it is important that the fans are happy with what we are doing, so I think its also important that the fans of Manchester United are very happy with the type of football we want to play. The fans are certainly happy that you kept Ryan Giggs involved as assistant manager. What attracted you to working with him? Everywhere I have been as a trainer-coach, I always pick one who knows the club, who knows the culture because I think its very important. I cannot come to England to authorise the Dutch culture here. But I want to know the culture, he can teach me that and he knows the best players, the talented boys in the youth system, he can help me a lot. I can help him to be a very good manager in the future. What will your coaches bring to United? What they bring is knowledge, and modern knowledge, and I think its an obligation of us to share this knowledge and that has been asked of by Ed Woodward the CEO and the owners. Is now the time you want to assess your squad before you make changes? I have to get to know them better because, of course, I know all the players and how they have played football under the direction of Moyes or Ferguson or Hodgson, but I want to know them personally and also how they perform my philosophy. For that, we have to wait and see and therefore we need training sessions. Thats why we have to wait and see how I feel in about a month or something like that. Then we can see if we will buy another player. There is some tough opposition on tour, will that be good to prepare for the new season? Its difficult because not everybody is here, the players are coming in at different times, and therefore they are not well prepared to play. So, this is also a difficult year after a World Cup, we have to give training sessions more individually because you cannot over-train players. You also need to the good fortunate of not picking up injuries to senior players? Already Michael Carrick is injured so thats a blow for our selection. We have to wait to see how the players come in. On Friday, 10 players are coming in, and there are still more players to come in after that. Finally, do you have a message for the fans ahead of the new season? I am very proud to be here, I hope I fulfil your expectations. I have heard the season tickets are already sold out, I am very pleased. I hope you support your team always, not only when we are winning but when we are losing, because we are winning together and we are losing together.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 05:17:50 +0000
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