Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Louis van Gaal to turn Manchester United around despite the team’s slow start and praised the new manager for giving debuts to seven young players at the start of his tenure as manager.
In Ferguson’s first interview about the Dutchman, the most successful manager in British football history also stated he is annoyed at being perceived as looking over the shoulder of Van Gaal.
United finished seventh last season under David Moyes and, from April, Ryan Giggs. But Ferguson believes Van Gaal will make the club successful again.
He told MUTV: “He’s not been getting the results that are expected but when I came to the club [in November 1986] I didn’t get the results I expected myself at the beginning. What we needed then was Sir Bobby Charlton, Martin Edwards and the board to stick by me and we had a great spell after that. Once I got settled into the club, everything was fine. Louis is going through that same process and there’s no doubt in my mind that he will sort it out.”
Since taking over Van Gaal has handed debuts to Tyler Blackett, Paddy McNair, Tom Thorpe, Saidy Janko, Reece James, Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira. Ferguson is encouraged by this and believes United’s tradition of blooding their youngsters is safe with Van Gaal.
“It was really important because you need quality at Manchester United, you need the best players,” he said. “What has pleased me about Louis is he’s given seven young kids their debuts this year which falls into line with the history of our club, there’s no question about that. The supporters particularly respond very, very well when a young player gets his opportunity.
“I think that’s exactly what Louis van Gaal believes in too. The greatest example is how he produced at Ajax to win the European Cup with all players created by Ajax themselves. Edwin van der Sar was in goal, Edgar Davids, Patrick Kluivert.”
Of his supposed annoyance at being depicted as a figure who is looming over Van Gaal, Ferguson added: “There’s a bit of that and obviously the press don’t miss an opportunity to focus on me during a game.”
Ferguson was happier to focus on the summer signings, including Angel di María, the British record signing at £59.7m: “That’s the way the game is going today with fees like £85m for Gareth Bale. When you can identify ability like that needed by Manchester United, they have the resources to do that.
“Herrera [bought for £28.5m] played against us three years ago for Bilbao in the Europa League. They gave us a right battering at Old Trafford. He’s a talented young player and we scouted him quite a lot at that time. He’s athletic, quite aggressive actually for a lad who has not got a great frame and he’s quite slim but he’s quite aggressive and he gets around the pitch.
“Rojo [who cost £16m], the Argentinian boy, I watched him at the World Cup, I thought he did really well and he’s capable of playing either left side as a wing-back if you like or as a centre-back.
“Daley Blind [a £14m acquisition] is one of those common-sense footballers that make up a team. He’s probably a version of Darren Fletcher of a few years ago, that type of player. He keeps it simple and protects the defenders and the attacking midfield players in his role.”
Ferguson also admitted being irritated last season when Manchester City and Liverpool defeated the team under Moyes. “I got annoyed when we lost to Liverpool last year. I didn’t enjoy that. I don’t like losing to Liverpool and Manchester City because they are your biggest rivals and the ones you always strive to defeat and are always in our way. Particularly Liverpool of course.”
