Burnley v Manchester United
Louis van Gaal has vowed to win the Premier League next season, and then lift the Champions League as part of an ambitious three-year plan at Manchester United.
United suffered one of their most humiliating results in recent memory on Tuesday when they were thrashed 4-0 by MK Dons in the League Cup.
For the supporters who made the long trip down to Buckinghamshire, the idea of soon participating in a Champions League final will probably seem like nothing but a pipe dream. But Van Gaal is sure that is where United are heading under his stewardship.
The Dutch coach, who has won European football’s biggest prize with Ajax, is sure he can pick his team up this year and finish in the top four despite their poor start.
Van Gaal wants to win the Premier League in 2015/16 and he then has his sights set on being crowned European champions the following May.
“I hope we are in the top four this season because the Champions League suits a club like United, and then maybe the next step is to be champions and then the next step is to be the winners of the Champions League,” the United manager said.
Given the way that his team crumbled against League One opposition three nights ago, Van Gaal clearly has a lot of work to do.
But that does not deter the 63-year-old, who is used to proving his critics wrong.
At Barcelona, the club stood 10th after 14 games of the 1998/99 season but ended as champions. With Bayern Munich 11 years later, Van Gaal’s side were seventh after 13 matches but won the Bundesliga.
And not two months ago Van Gaal defied a wave of pessimism to lead the Netherlands to the semi-finals of the World Cup, where they lost on penalties to Argentina.
“When I started with the Dutch national team (in 2012) no-one believed we could qualify (for the World Cup),” Van Gaal said. “After that they said we wouldn’t have any chance to get through the group stage, and after that (they said) ‘we’ll lose against every opponent’.”
Speaking at Carrington to preview today’s meeting with Burnley, Van Gaal issued a very blunt response to a question about whether he has ever had any doubts in his own ability.
“No,” he said, before then taking aim at his critics. “I have read your articles and I was the king in the United States.
“Now I am not, but I am the same Louis van Gaal with the same record and same philosophy.”
But despite Van Gaal’s optimism, and the record-breaking £59.7million (Dh363.8m) transfer of Angel Di Maria – £14.7m more than Burnley have spent on players in their entire 132-year history – the facts paint a very bleak picture about the first three weeks of United’s season.
Confidence within the squad has been hit by the draw at Sunderland and defeats to Swansea and MK Dons. And Van Gaal thinks the task ahead of him will not get any easier when he takes his team to Burnley.
“They will play with a lot of passion, a lot of long balls, but you have to fight against it,” he said. “It will be very difficult but we have to show we can play football, that we can pass the ball in spite of the pressure of Burnley.”
Van Gaal needed a gentle reminder that he managed at Turf Moor 22 years ago with Ajax. Then, Van Gaal’s team – which included Edwin van der Sar, Dennis Bergkamp and Wim Jonk – beat the Clarets 1-0 in front of a crowd of 10,746 just six days after lifting the UEFA Cup.
“Yes, I was there!” Van Gaal said after pausing to think for a few seconds. “We won. I took over there in ‘91, we won the UEFA Cup in the first season, in the second year we won the (Dutch) cup, and after the league. It was a step in the process.”
Today will be a good barometer for judging how long that same process will take at United.
Team news:
Burnley: Manager Sean Dyche expects striker Sam Vokes to once again be Burnley’s only absentee. Wales international Vokes has a long-term knee problem but was back doing some running on the grass at the Clarets’ training ground this week.
Manchester United: British record signing Angel Di Maria is fit to make his Manchester United debut but due to a lack of match fitness may start on the bench. Midfielders Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera (all ankle) are out.
Likely line-ups:
Burnley: Heaton, Mee, Shackell, Duff, Trippier, Taylor, Jones, Marney, Arfield, Ings, Jutkiewicz
Manchester United: De Gea, Blackett, Evans, Jones, Young, Cleverley, Fletcher, Januzaj, Mata, Rooney, Van Persie
Players to watch:
Burnley: Danny Ings
A clever and tricky second striker who could benefit from United’s lack of midfielders. If the 22-yearold can find pockets of space in behind Darren Fletcher, he could test United’s uncertain defence with his direct running, work rate and eye for goal.
Manchester United: Wayne Rooney
Should be on a high after beingnamed England captain in midweek, United need their skipper to deliver a big display and lift the gloom. Technically Rooney should be too good for Burnley’s defence and if he can find space he could well make the difference.
