Heavy Win Delights van Gaal

Louis van Gaal was a happy man after his first game in charge of Manchester United ended in a comprehensive 7-0 win over LA Galaxy.

The Reds got the pre-season tour of the United States off to an ideal start in Pasadena, thanks to goals from Danny Welbeck, Wayne Rooney (2), Reece James (2) and Ashley Young (2).

The quality of United’s football impressed van Gaal but he was most pleased with the way they adapted to his trademark 3-5-2 system, with debutant Ander Herrera sparkling in midfield.

“It is fantastic how they have performed today,” van Gaal said. “When you see us train, you can expect something but not 7-0. It was a surprise, but they were beautiful goals and beautiful attacks.

“The result always matters. With such a result you get confidence. We introduced a new system and played twice on the training pitch, 11 v 11. It is not very much, but the boys are willing to pick up the information. Last week, 10 players who played tonight were not even at our training complex.

“When I see my team playing a new system, it is better to win 7-0 than to lose because the players will then doubt the system. But now I don’t have that problem.”

The 3-5-2 formation, which featured almost entirely different personnel in the second half at the Rose Bowl, is a change from United’s traditional tactics but van Gaal had no qualms.

“When you want to change a system, you must start at once,” he said. “We don’t have time to prepare for other things.

“The other system they can play is 4-3-3 and they have played it for many years. I can change it back if it doesn’t work. With the quality of the players we have, I can play 4-3-3 with three strikers on the bench, but I want to play with two strikers.

“We have four number 10s, so the selection is not balanced in my eyes. I have decided to play this system because of the quality of the players. But if we lose, I can change back to another system.”