Louis Van Gaal has vowed to stick with the 3-5-2 formation that marked United’s 7-0 win against LA Galaxy earlier this morning, as the Dutchman made his debut as Manchester United manager in the first pre-season friendly.
Wayne Rooney, Reece James and Ashley Young both grabbed two goals apiece, while Danny Welbeck was also on the scoresheet but the biggest point of focus of Van Gaal’s first game in charge was the 3-5-2 formation he opted to field, with Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling at centre-backs and Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia at wing-backs.
It was a world away from the static banks of four United fans had grown used to last season and Van Gaal was pleased with his new system.
“The result always matters,” the Dutchman told the Mirror.
“With such a result you get confidence and confidence in a new system.
“We introduced a new system and played just two times on the training pitch eleven v eleven. It is no so much, but the boys are willing to pick up the information.
“It is fantastic how they have performed today.”
United were without Robin Van Persie, Marouane Fellaini and Adnan Januzaj, who have all been given extended breaks after the World Cup, while Michael Carrick was sidelined with an injury which will keep him out for up to 12 weeks. Nevertheless Van Gaal was pleased with the way his players responded last night.
“Last week, ten players who played tonight were not even in our training complex,” said the Dutchman.
“But when you see us train, you can expect something but not 7-0. It was a surprise, but they were also beautiful goals.
“It was not just the goals, but the beautiful attacks.”
Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera were handed their first start in a red shirt and despite the absence of a few first team players, Van Gaal insisted he couldn’t afford to waste any time and decided to implement his new system immediately.
“When you want to change a system, you must start at once. We don’t have time to prepare for other things,” he explained.
“The other system they can play is 4-3-3 and they have played it for many years.
“I can change back if the system doesn’t work. With the quality of the players we have, I can play 4-3-3 with three strikers on the bench, bit I want to play with two strikers.
“We have four number tens, so the selection is not balanced in my eyes. I have decided to play this system because of the quality of the players.
“But if we lose, I can change back to another system.”
“When I see my team playing a new system, it is better to win 7-0 than to lose because the players will then doubt the system.
“But now I don’t have that problem.”
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