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Manchester United set to name Louis van Gaal as manager at end of season Louis van Gaal: I want to manage Manchester United
(about 1 hour later)
Manchester United have delayed naming Louis van Gaal as their manager but are expected to do so next week. The club want to wait until the season ends on Sunday before making an official announcement about David Moyes' successor. Louis van Gaal has admitted he would love the to become the next Manchester United manager, with the Dutchman claiming the Premier League champions are "the biggest club in the world".
Yet the delay comes as a surprise given Wednesday's apparent deadline – imposed by Van Gaal, the Holland coach, and the Dutch Football Association – to have his future sorted out before he begins preparations for the World Cup. The 62-year-old's comments are the first time he has spoken of the prospect of becoming David Moyes's permanent successor at United, a position he is expected to be confirmed in next week.
Van Gaal joined some of his Holland squad on Wednesday and did not address the local media. Yet the matter is certain to be raised at a scheduled news conference for the national team on Tuesday, when he will name the provisional squad. "I would love the job," Van Gaal told the BBC. "I hope that I shall be the one. It's the biggest club in the world and it's a fantastic challenge."
The delay in naming a manager leaves United in an unwanted state of flux and if appointed, Van Gaal will be unable to take over until Holland's campaign in Brazil ends. Indeed he may not be able to start until mid-July if they have a successful World Cup, but he is expected to offer Ryan Giggs the chance to be his No2, with the Welshman minded to accept. United want to wait until their season ends on Sunday before making an announcement over their next manager. "You [reporters] are thinking I'm the man but the most important thing is whether Manchester United are thinking that," Van Gaal said.
After United's dismal defence of the Premier League title under Moyes this term, Van Gaal will be expected to mount a serious championship challenge next season. Having won titles at his four previous clubs – Ajax, Barcelona, AZ and Bayern Munich – the 62-year-old is confident he can lead United to their 21st such triumph. Players he is interested in adding to his new squad, in what United hope will be a close season of rebuilding, include Bayern Munich's Thomas Müller and Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus. He insisted he would not allow the attention on his future to distract him from the immediate task of leading Holland at the World Cup. "I have to focus on my job," he said. "I am coach of the Dutch national team. I have waited a long time to be in a World Cup so that's very important.This doesn't affect me. I have always had offers. I know what the football world is and what it means."
The United defender Rio Ferdinand says the United squad have little idea when an appointment will be made. He told BT Sport: "All the papers have been talking about Klopp, Simeone, Van Gaal, Giggsy getting it, Ancelotti, Mourinho – but we're like guys sitting in the pub discussing it. If you believe and listen to the reports going around, it'll be someone with real credentials who has been at big clubs and won a lot of things." The delay by United in confirming their manager comes as a surprise given Wednesday's apparent deadline – imposed by Van Gaal and the Dutch Football Association – to have his future sorted out before he begins preparations for the World Cup.
Van Gaal may not be able to start until mid-July if they have a successful World Cup, but he is expected to offer Ryan Giggs the chance to be his No2, with the Welshman minded to accept.
Despite United's dismal defence of the Premier League title under Moyes, Van Gaal is confident he can lead United to their 21st such triumph. Players he is interested in include Bayern Munich's Thomas Müller and Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus.
The United defender Rio Ferdinand says the United squad have little idea when an appointment will be made. He told BT Sport: "All the papers have been talking about Klopp, Simeone, Van Gaal, Giggsy getting it, Ancelotti, Mourinho – but we're like guys sitting in the pub discussing it. If you believe and listen to the reports going around, it'll be someone with real credentials who has been at big clubs and won a lot of things."