MANCHESTER. — He started by talking about the honour of taking his first few steps as Manchester United manager alongside Sir Bobby Charlton.
By the time Louis van Gaal was up and running on Thursday, however, it was clear he won’t need any assistance finding his own way in English football.
It will be Van Gaal’s way or nothing.
The 62-year-old Dutchman was everything we had come to expect: at times abrasive, humble, charming and even funny. But, above all, there was a cast-iron belief in his football philosophy and the importance of others grasping it.
He railed against his reputation as a dictator but this is not a man who is afraid to seek out confrontation or ruffle a few feathers.
Having criticised United’s prized training ground on the club’s television station, Van Gaal walked into his opening press conference at Old Trafford a few minutes late — dressed in a grey suit and club tie — and immediately raised the thorny issue of United’s commercial might impacting on team affairs.
“Within two days I know how important Manchester United is and how important the sponsors are,” he said. You could almost hear the uncomfortable fidgeting of men in suits. Later he added, again unprompted: “Because of the greatness of this club it’s also much more difficult than another club.” — Mailonline.



