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Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United players must make most of US tour Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United players must make most of US tour
(30 days later)
Louis van Gaal will board the plane with the Manchester United squad next month at the end of the summer tour closer to answering his two burning questions: who are to be his players? And how far can these chosen ones take the club this coming season?Louis van Gaal will board the plane with the Manchester United squad next month at the end of the summer tour closer to answering his two burning questions: who are to be his players? And how far can these chosen ones take the club this coming season?
On Wednesday night, Van Gaal takes charge of the side for the first time, when United face Los Angeles Galaxy in Pasadena. The club then fly to Denver to start the International Champions Cup against Roma on Saturday, before matches against Internazionale in Washington on 29 July and Real Madrid in Detroit on 2 August, in advance of a potential final appearance on 4 August in Miami, if the team have qualified.On Wednesday night, Van Gaal takes charge of the side for the first time, when United face Los Angeles Galaxy in Pasadena. The club then fly to Denver to start the International Champions Cup against Roma on Saturday, before matches against Internazionale in Washington on 29 July and Real Madrid in Detroit on 2 August, in advance of a potential final appearance on 4 August in Miami, if the team have qualified.
The Dutchman’s perfect scenario runs like this: after three wins in the competition United face Manchester City or Liverpool – who are in the other group – in Miami, where one of their fiercest rivals are handed a sound hiding to give Van Gaal the ideal end to a confidence-boosting and highly instructive exercise. If this happens, Van Gaal will be much wiser about the makeup of his strongest XI, with only Robin van Persie, who misses the tour because of a post-World Cup holiday, and whoever else the manager may recruit in the market to consider.The Dutchman’s perfect scenario runs like this: after three wins in the competition United face Manchester City or Liverpool – who are in the other group – in Miami, where one of their fiercest rivals are handed a sound hiding to give Van Gaal the ideal end to a confidence-boosting and highly instructive exercise. If this happens, Van Gaal will be much wiser about the makeup of his strongest XI, with only Robin van Persie, who misses the tour because of a post-World Cup holiday, and whoever else the manager may recruit in the market to consider.
He will also have been able to assess Wayne Rooney’s candidacy for the captaincy in Van Persie’s absence; Van Gaal emphasised at his unveiling on Thursday that he sees the role as vital.He will also have been able to assess Wayne Rooney’s candidacy for the captaincy in Van Persie’s absence; Van Gaal emphasised at his unveiling on Thursday that he sees the role as vital.
The 62-year-old would return to Manchester knowing who should have the armband and which players he can trust. He will also have a clearer picture of whether his favoured 4-3-3 can be a slick attacking formation that will win games in the Premier League, or if he may better prosper with the 5-3-2 to which he switched Holland on the eve of Brazil 2014 with storming success.The 62-year-old would return to Manchester knowing who should have the armband and which players he can trust. He will also have a clearer picture of whether his favoured 4-3-3 can be a slick attacking formation that will win games in the Premier League, or if he may better prosper with the 5-3-2 to which he switched Holland on the eve of Brazil 2014 with storming success.
All of this depends on the makeup of his squad, with the big issue the state of flux Van Gaal finds at United. The summer could be remembered for the largest cull of players at the club in living memory, with executives stating last week that Van Gaal is free to axe as many as he wants.All of this depends on the makeup of his squad, with the big issue the state of flux Van Gaal finds at United. The summer could be remembered for the largest cull of players at the club in living memory, with executives stating last week that Van Gaal is free to axe as many as he wants.
There is a natural limit, of course. The manager will be aware too much turnover of personnel can disrupt. Yet, as Van Gaal finally arrived at the club on Wednesday, players were queuing up to send the same message to their new boss. It said: “I know I may be involved in a beauty pageant on tour but watch me prove that you can rely on me.”There is a natural limit, of course. The manager will be aware too much turnover of personnel can disrupt. Yet, as Van Gaal finally arrived at the club on Wednesday, players were queuing up to send the same message to their new boss. It said: “I know I may be involved in a beauty pageant on tour but watch me prove that you can rely on me.”
The Iron Tulip’s reputation has preceded him. While Van Gaal was leading an erratic Holland to an impressive third place at the World Cup, in Manchester his new charges were girding themselves for the challenge of being on trial all over again – an unsettling scenario for United’s highly remunerated players.The Iron Tulip’s reputation has preceded him. While Van Gaal was leading an erratic Holland to an impressive third place at the World Cup, in Manchester his new charges were girding themselves for the challenge of being on trial all over again – an unsettling scenario for United’s highly remunerated players.
Tom Cleverley is one of many who cannot afford complacency. With only a year left on his contract the silence from his employers over new terms – on Van Gaal’s orders, as he assesses his squad – is deafening. Cleverley said: “I have just got to take it day by day. Obviously, with the new manager coming in, you want to try to impress him as soon as possible and make a good first impression. That is my first target, my short-term goal, and then I will take it from there.”Tom Cleverley is one of many who cannot afford complacency. With only a year left on his contract the silence from his employers over new terms – on Van Gaal’s orders, as he assesses his squad – is deafening. Cleverley said: “I have just got to take it day by day. Obviously, with the new manager coming in, you want to try to impress him as soon as possible and make a good first impression. That is my first target, my short-term goal, and then I will take it from there.”
Of his new boss he said: “I have kept hearing little things about him and I think everyone has been looking forward to meeting with him, training with him and of course playing for him. There is definitely an excitement around the squad.”Of his new boss he said: “I have kept hearing little things about him and I think everyone has been looking forward to meeting with him, training with him and of course playing for him. There is definitely an excitement around the squad.”
Cleverley’s unconvincing form and the sense that his development has stalled led to his demotion under the previous manager, David Moyes. Now the 24-year-old must contend with Ander Herrera, the £28.5m arrival from Athletic Bilbao.Cleverley’s unconvincing form and the sense that his development has stalled led to his demotion under the previous manager, David Moyes. Now the 24-year-old must contend with Ander Herrera, the £28.5m arrival from Athletic Bilbao.
Cleverley talks up his rival but the hope was that the Englishman would be the kind of box-to-box midfielder that Herrera is. “Ander is definitely a United player, I could tell that by playing against him the couple of times I have done. He passes, he moves and is a clever player. He is someone who I think I will enjoy playing with.”Cleverley talks up his rival but the hope was that the Englishman would be the kind of box-to-box midfielder that Herrera is. “Ander is definitely a United player, I could tell that by playing against him the couple of times I have done. He passes, he moves and is a clever player. He is someone who I think I will enjoy playing with.”
Others in need of a strong showing on tour include Chris Smalling, Shinji Kagawa, Darren Fletcher, Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini. This would also apply to Javier Hernández, who may join up later, after a break following Mexico’s defeat to Van Gaal’s Holland in the last 16 of the World Cup. Others in need of a strong showing on tour include Chris Smalling, Shinji Kagawa, Darren Fletcher, Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini. This would also apply to Javier Hernández, who may join up later, after a break following Mexico’s defeat to Van Gaal’s Holland in the last 16 of the World Cup.
Fletcher is another with 12 months remaining on his contract and is yet to learn if new terms will be offered. The Scot, who like Cleverley may benefit from Michael Carrick’s 12-week absence with an ankle injury, believes the calibre of teams United face in America offers a real chance for players to show Van Gaal their worth.Fletcher is another with 12 months remaining on his contract and is yet to learn if new terms will be offered. The Scot, who like Cleverley may benefit from Michael Carrick’s 12-week absence with an ankle injury, believes the calibre of teams United face in America offers a real chance for players to show Van Gaal their worth.
“You want to challenge yourself against the best and, although it’s pre-season, if you’re playing against someone like Real Madrid you are going to be against top quality opposition,” Fletcher said.“You want to challenge yourself against the best and, although it’s pre-season, if you’re playing against someone like Real Madrid you are going to be against top quality opposition,” Fletcher said.
“It’s what you want as you want to make an impression and impress the manager because you want to be in the team for the start of the season. It’s like in training, when we play in two teams it becomes quite competitive and you’ll see the same in these tour matches. Once you get on that pitch it’s competitive and you always want to win every game and every tournament you’re involved in.“It’s what you want as you want to make an impression and impress the manager because you want to be in the team for the start of the season. It’s like in training, when we play in two teams it becomes quite competitive and you’ll see the same in these tour matches. Once you get on that pitch it’s competitive and you always want to win every game and every tournament you’re involved in.
“It’s also good to build team spirit. There might be a new player settling in and the manager can get across ideas as he’s working day in, day out with the players. All these things can contribute to a good season if you get a good pre-season behind you.”“It’s also good to build team spirit. There might be a new player settling in and the manager can get across ideas as he’s working day in, day out with the players. All these things can contribute to a good season if you get a good pre-season behind you.”
As well as deciding who is not required Van Gaal is keen to quickly integrate Herrera and Luke Shaw, the £27m buy from Southampton. Van Gaal, in typical fashion, admitted on Thursday that Shaw and Herrera were approved rather than searched out specifically by him.As well as deciding who is not required Van Gaal is keen to quickly integrate Herrera and Luke Shaw, the £27m buy from Southampton. Van Gaal, in typical fashion, admitted on Thursday that Shaw and Herrera were approved rather than searched out specifically by him.
Herrera does not care. “Louis van Gaal is one of the best managers in the world and, for me, I am lucky to be working with him. I want to learn a lot of things and I can’t wait to play with Van Gaal, my new team-mates and for Manchester United.”Herrera does not care. “Louis van Gaal is one of the best managers in the world and, for me, I am lucky to be working with him. I want to learn a lot of things and I can’t wait to play with Van Gaal, my new team-mates and for Manchester United.”
Over the next two weeks the Dutchman and his players will find out a lot about each other.Over the next two weeks the Dutchman and his players will find out a lot about each other.