Louis van Gaal has admitted he feels pressure from Sir Alex Ferguson’s belief in him as Manchester United manager, with this driving the Dutchman on to achieve success for the club.
Ferguson, United’s most successful ever manager, praised Van Gaal this week, stating he had every confidence in the coach whom he described as “great”. Asked about this, Van Gaal said: “I am very happy with that because then you can work more easily but it’s also pressure because he believes in you and that gives you that pressure that you have to get results. And it’s not so easy to win Premier League matches.
“It’s fantastic – when you come to Manchester United, because I know Sir Alex, you hope that he will support you. And when he is supporting you, he is doing that not only this week but in other conferences he gave. He showed a lot of confidence and belief in me and you need that as a trainer-coach, as manager of Manchester United. You need that belief and support of managers like Sir Alex but also from Bobby Charlton or David Gill [both of whom are also directors]. They have the belief.”
Under David Moyes last season United had a poor league record at Old Trafford, losing seven times and winning only nine. However Van Gaal has already claimed seven victories and believes Old Trafford has become a fortress again.
“We want to build a fortress at Old Trafford but we have made that already because we have won a lot. Also, with very great results, 3-0 and 4-0. I’m happy with that but then we have to continue because seven is too few I think. So we have to continue and that’s the most difficult point because it is not easy to win games in the Premier League,” he said.
Van Gaal agreed with the suggestion that sides once more arrive at Old Trafford hoping to stop United rather than trying to win as they did last term. “Yes, maybe that’s true,” he said, “but they can play how they want because that is their right. I’ve always said that. That’s why it’s more difficult. My record in away matches is not so bad when you compare it with my home matches as a trainer-coach. Because away the teams are more open but here [at Old Trafford] they want to defend which is why it’s more difficult.
“That’s why we want to create a certain play-style where we can dominate. I am saying every week that we dominate for 45-60 minutes. We must do it for 90 minutes. We did that against Hull, which was a very good match.”
In the weekend’s 1-1 draw at Aston Villa Wayne Rooney operated as a deep-lying midfielder and Van Gaal thinks the captain can be a success there, if required. “Wayne is a player who can play in different positions and I like that because I like multi-functional players, he said. “That’s why I can use him as a midfielder, also as a striker and as an attacking midfielder.
“The last game he was more a defensive midfielder. I like that he is also coming into the 16 metres [the hole position]. Because he can score goals. He has the ability to run from box to box and that is also a little bit that he has to ‘feel’ in a match – read the match – and he can do this. But that’s a matter of time and he can do that. I like him closer to the area than our own goal.”
Van Gaal, who has given all of his players Christmas Day off, admitted some of the squad can deal with the busy festive programme better than others. “For a few players it is fine because they recover very quickly but you also have players who do not recover quickly. So I have to rotate. My problem is I have a lot of injured players, so that’s the problem for these matches in the coming weeks. We have a lot of games coming.”
For Newcastle United’s visit on Boxing Day only Chris Smalling of his injured players appears to have a chance of playing. “Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and Luke Shaw are not coming back,” the manager said. “Smalling maybe. It’s a question mark. I have to look tomorrow. But that’s like always.”
The manager refused to talk about reports that Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale is of interest. “I cannot discus that with you. I discuss that with my CEO and not with anyone of the media,” he said.
