Van Gaal Explains Dugout Position

Louis van Gaal has revealed the reason why he has rarely entered the touchline technical area during his 11 matches as Manchester United manager.

The Dutchman's tendency to remain seated in the dugout has been noted by Reds supporters, particularly when he made his first appearance on the touchline following Chris Smalling's dismissal in last Sunday's derby defeat at the Etihad Stadium.

Speaking to MUTV at the Aon Training Complex on Friday, van Gaal explained why he is always keen to take a more considered view of games from the dugout.

"I am always on the bench because my philosophy is that we have to prepare our players to play the match and when you are shouting on the sideline, there is nobody you can contact during the game - especially when we are home at Old Trafford,” the boss said, referring to noise levels inside the ground.

“But at that time when I was at the sideline [against City], it was because of the red card for Chris Smalling and I had to readjust our system. That is why I was there, but normally I am never there.”

United host Crystal Palace at the Theatre of Dreams on Saturday and van Gaal expects his opposite number in the dugout, Neil Warnock, to provide a difficult test.

"I think every opponent in the Premier League is very difficult to beat and we have seen that,” he said. "We have 13 points out of 10 matches and that is below everything that we had expected, and what the fans had expected."