Jamie Jackson 

Louis van Gaal: I want to make my Manchester United team like Holland

Louis van Gaal will officially arrive at Manchester United on Wednesday and says he wants the club to ‘sing from the same hymn sheet’ like his Holland squad
  
  

Louis van Gaal
Louis van Gaal led Holland to third place at the World Cup despite sniping from former players such as Johan Cruyff over his tactics. Photograph: Xinhua News Agency/Rex Photograph: Xinhua News Agency/REX

Louis van Gaal will arrive at Manchester United on Wednesday for his first official day as manager, with the Dutchman wanting the club to “sing from the same hymn sheet” and become like the Holland squad he led to third-place at the World Cup.

Last season United finished seventh in a dismal title defence under David Moyes. But Van Gaal is hopeful of having an instant effect on United and has brushed off the need for a break following Brazil 2014.

On Saturday, Van Gaal guided Holland to a 3-0 win over Brazil in the third-place game before flying home to attend a Dutch FA reception in Amsterdam on Monday. A hectic week for the 62-year-old will also see him meet his new squad for the first time, be unveiled at a press conference on Thursday and fly to the United States on Friday for United’s summer tour.

He said: “That is no problem for me, I don’t need a holiday. It’s great to have such an exciting challenge. To work daily with young people is something that I don’t need time off to rest for.

“I hope the group in Manchester will become like this [Holland] one. We have to sing from the same hymn sheet. I hope at Manchester United I can do my best. I will do my best. Whether that’s enough for the fans I will wait and see, but I genuinely hope that will be the case.

“I’m looking forward to it. I’ve only met two people from the daily management at the club – the chief scout and the chief executive officer Ed Woodward. And I’ve met two of the owners. It’s time that I get to know more people at the club.”

Ryan Giggs does not want United to retire the No11 shirt after wearing the number for the majority of his 23 years as a player at the club. “No. There are obviously special cases but it just depends on the club really,” he said. “I don’t think it’s [right] for United where they constantly churn out great players.

“I haven’t thought about who will take over the No11 shirt – that’s a good question.”

 

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