Van Gaal Starts With A Bang

The Louis van Gaal era finally got under way on Wednesday night – and the 86,000 fans inside the Rose Bowl who saw United thrash LA Galaxy were left in no doubt that our new manager means business.

After all the talk of impressing the boss, speculation on systems and characteristic soundbites from the man himself, it was time to see van Gaal’s philosophy applied to a United team for the first time, in the opening match of the pre-season tour of the States. He applied it and then some.

Hard-working, focused and disciplined were the words the manager used to describe what he’d seen from his players on the training field in Los Angeles, but he was keen to assess if they could take that into a game. He can be mightily pleased with their efforts.

It was no real surprise van Gaal sent his team out in the same 3-5-2 formation he favoured with the Netherlands at the World Cup, though no less intriguing for that.

Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Jonny Evans started in defence, with Luke Shaw deployed as a left wing-back and fellow new signing Ander Herrera – who impressed on his debut – forming a midfield trio with captain Darren Fletcher and Juan Mata.

Those inside the stadium – the vast majority wearing red – quietly watched the action unfold, enthralled by the rare opportunity to see the 'winningest team in EPL history' in the flesh. There were Mexican waves, goal music and a Chevrolet parked by the side of the pitch – it was a typical American sporting event.

Danny Welbeck grabbed the honour of scoring the first goal of van Gaal’s reign, pleasingly firing in off a post, and, from there on, the game was as serene as the Pasadena night air, as the Reds found the net six more times.

Van Gaal has repeatedly stated he will give all his players a chance to impress before making decisions for the new season and, true to his word, he made wholesale changes at the break, though intriguingly stuck with his original formation. Herrera sparkled and 20-year-old substitute Reece James enjoyed a happy evening with a second-half brace.

The California heat had been oppressive in the day and remained stifling in the evening, but United’s players looked fit and sharp, no doubt having already benefited from some gruelling double training sessions in the USA.

I expected van Gaal to be reserved in his judgment after the game, to be at pains not to get carried away. But he seemed delighted with his team, using words like "fantastic" and "beautiful".

It’s far too early to get giddy about van Gaal’s brave new world. This was the first game of pre-season and bigger tests await on this tour alone, never mind when the Premier League returns next month. But there was a fluidity and hunger in United’s play at the Rose Bowl that only rarely surfaced last term.

The tour rolls on to Denver next and the start of the International Champions Cup against AS Roma. Judging by this resounding display, United will be quietly optimistic of making the final in Miami on 4 August.

Credit: Manutd.com