Van Gaal tipped to bring good times back to United

Martyn Thomas 10:51 20/05/2014
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  • Inside knowledge: Louis van Gaal and Shota Arveladze in their days together in charge of AZ Alkmaar.

    Louis van Gaal has been backed to bring an attacking verve back to Manchester United by his former player and assistant Shota Arveladze.

    One of the worst kept secrets in football was confirmed on Monday as United announced the appointment of Van Gaal as manager on a three-year contract.

    The 62-year-old Dutchman will take charge at Old Trafford following the World Cup, where he will lead Netherlands, and Arveladze believes emphatically that he is the right choice.

    The former Georgian international scored 36 goals in 60 games after being signed by Van Gaal for AZ Alkmaar in 2005. He then spent a further year as his assistant manager before his mentor departed for Bayern Munich in 2009.

    “I believe in every single thing that he does,” the Kasimpasa boss told Sport360°. “I have seen it myself as a player and as his assistant, he knows what he is doing better than anyone else I have seen.

    “I have been around a bit so I know how good he is. He is always the right choice.”

    Arveladze also believes the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss will look to impliment his own brand of flowing football that proved so successful across Europe. 

    “He always plays football. He always has his own philosophy. He will never put a No5 as a central striker just to score and not play football.

    “He will always think about the future of the club, the future of the football, about the fans.

    “You will see it and I know this for sure – he will make Manchester United play the football that the British culture and the British football fans like.

    “And also they will have more fans in the world than they ever had before.”

    Arveladze did though concede that Van Gaal’s success or failure in Manchester could hinge on his relationship with the media. The 62-year-old has been known to lose his temper with the press, perfectly illustrated when a wild-eyed Van Gaal chastised a senior BBC reporter last week for asking him “stupid questions”.

    “I don’t know how long he will be there, but in a short time he will make a difference,” the Georgian said. “I would say if he and the media, especially the media, have a kind of gentlemen’s agreement then they will understand each other more because he has had a little bit of a hard time with the media in other countries.” 

    “It will be about the results," explained the former Rangers striker. "If he has the results then he is the winner. If not then it is always difficult.”

    Van Gaal’s decision to retain United legend Ryan Giggs as his No2 is also a good move according to Arveladze as it will give the Dutchman an insight into the history and traditions of the club.

    “He needs someone who knows Manchester United like his five fingers. So he would be better than anyone else that he could have brought in. So I thought that was the right choice,” he added. “Ryan Giggs can do a great job for him I think and for himself it will be a great opportunity.”

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