Romero's Positive Start Pleases Van Gaal

Sergio Romero’s good form throughout his first five matches for Manchester United has not come as a surprise to Louis van Gaal, who has praised the Argentinian’s early performances.

Romero joined United towards the end of the club's pre-season tour of America and just a week before the start of the Barclays Premier League season. Despite his lack of training with the team, he was thrust straight into the firing line when he made his debut in the opener against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford and has since retained his place in goal, producing a series of measured displays behind a solid defence.

“This was also a consequence of him playing a lot of games with the Argentinian team in the Copa America,” van Gaal told reporters, on the subject of Romero’s fine start. “The difficulty was the co-operation between the new players and him and that I mentioned already after the first match.

“We have had special training sessions with him, not just him and the goalkeeping coach, but with him and the players. We have given a lot of attention to that and this is why we could overcome it. I am not surprised that we are doing well with him because, as you know, the defence starts with the striker. We have proved that already last season that we have a very good defensive organisation.”

Asked about playing Romero from the start of the season and the Argentinian’s good form, van Gaal said: “It is not unexpected for me, we have bought him. Otherwise we wouldn't have bought him. You have expectations always when you buy players. Mostly you have positive expectations."

Impressively, the Reds have kept four clean sheets in all competitions this season, conceding only one goal - and that was an own goal by Michael Carrick in the first leg against Club Brugge. Van Gaal is delighted by the statistics, although the manager admits he has not yet seen enough of Romero being tested to know that he can cope fully with the demands of English football.

“I don't think so because, until now, we don't allow a lot of shots or moments in our area,” the boss said. “He has made very good saves, but until now, I think only maybe the save against Brugge at 1-0 was very important and he did also a save against Tottenham Hotspur and that was it. He has not been able to show what he can do, and I think that is a compliment to the team.”