Van Gaal: Away Form Key To Success

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal hopes victory over Aston Villa tonight will kickstart an improved season on the road for his team.

Only Chelsea won more home games than van Gaal’s men last term but it was the Reds’ away form – just six wins from 19 games – that scuppered any chance of a top-three finish.

"At home we were one of the best – third in the league, I think,” van Gaal told reporters at his pre-match press conference.

"But away from home we can improve – last season it was not good. I think that is the key for success this season."

Tonight’s opponents could be regarded as something of an unknown quantity, having released 16 players and brought in nine new faces so far in the summer transfer window.

"Yeah, but we have scouts and they are analysing our opponents," van Gaal countered on MUTV. "We have analysed Aston Villa at least three times. We know their new players now."

United are kicking off the round of Barclays Premier League matches for the second time in a run of three weeks at the start of the 2015/16 season.

Van Gaal was asked if three points against Tim Sherwood’s side would allow the Reds to put pressure on the other teams at the top of the league.

"No, we only have a better start than last season – but the season takes a long time," he replied. "After 10 matches [last year] we had 13 points, yet until the game against Chelsea [at Stamford Bridge] it was still possible for us to be the champions, I believe."

The game at Villa Park is United’s first on a Friday night in the league since a goalless draw with Sunderland in April 2006, but van Gaal added he was used to it from his days as a manager in Germany and the Netherlands.