Thumbs up: Van Gaal's methods are starting to click and United are now third
Louis van Gaal believes he is on the way to replicating his success at Bayern Munich with Manchester United.
Van
Gaal won the Double in his first season with Bayern, overcoming a slow
start to put together a winning run - just as he has done at United this
term. The Old Trafford giants
have won six games in a row, to take them up to third in the Premier
League, with manager Van Gaal is looking to continue that winning run on Saturday at Aston Villa. The Dutchman's
start at United mirrors his debut campaign with Bayern, who went on an
14-game unbeaten run in the Bundesliga - from November to March - en
route to becoming champions.
United, now eight points adrift of
leaders Chelsea, may have some way to go to match those exploits, but
Van Gaal admitted he can see his Bayern blueprint starting to take
effect at Old Trafford.
"Yes, but that I have said already, in
preparation time [pre-season] that I need time," he said. "In the United
States, we had direct success. I think we played very well there -
surprisingly, very good.
"I coach in a way that players have to
think for themselves and think why they are doing things on the pitch.
When you work at that rate, you have to be conscious of what you are
doing. That takes time.
"But when they are used to that, then it
shall give better consistency in performance. That's what I'm looking
for and that needs time. That was also the case when I was in Barcelona,
in Munich and even like that with the Dutch national team." Man United train for the Aston Villa game:
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Asked if he could see United extending their unbeaten run
over a lengthy period, just as he did at Bayern, Van Gaal was sceptical,
citing the contrasting nature of the Premier League.
"You never
know, because the Premier League is different to the Spanish or German
league," he said. "We have to work with other players with their own
identities.
"I have said already, when they are used to the way
they have to think and prepare, the possibility that you win and perform
well is much higher. That's why I have won a lot of titles, I think."
Van
Gaal also raised doubts over United's title credentials this season -
despite the progress they have made under him in recent weeks - because
of the strength of Chelsea and Manchester City.
"Mathematically,
yes [United can win the title]," he added. "But you have to see what
Manchester City are doing and Chelsea are doing, because they are above
us.
"They are very good teams. They have to make mistakes. They
are not dependant on others. We are depending on Chelsea and Manchester
City [making mistakes]."
Van Gaal also paid tribute to Michael
Carrick, whose return to the starting line-up has coincided with
United's sustained winning run, highlighting his composure and
adaptability as key reasons for the team's upturn in fortune.
John Peters
Vintage Carr: The return of Michael Carrick from injury has steadied United's ship
Revealing he has made Carrick vice-captain, with Darren
Fletcher now unable to command a regular starting place, Van Gaal
explained: "He is my vice-captain so he brings a lot of experience, but
also a lot of composure. I can use him in different position and that I
like.
"Because he is my vice-captain, he can transfer my
philosophy on the pitch. Next to Rooney, he is my captain. Fletcher is
also my captain. I have three captains, but of course there is a
sequence. Rooney is one, Carrick is two and Fletcher is three.
"In
different lines of my team I have captains and that's very important.
Maybe that contribution is a big one. When I put him in a line-up in
defence, I miss him in midfield, now we don't have Daley Blind."
Van
Gaal said United's adversity in dealing with injuries this season - at
one stage they had 10 men out - has made many of his squad better
players, because they have had to adapt to different roles.
"I
have done it with all my teams," he said. "It's usual for me. Not the
injuries, but the fact they have to play in different positions. I like
multi-functional players. I buy more multi-functional players than
specialists."
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