Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal admits he was “stupid” to invite people to analyse his reign after three months.
When the Dutchman took charge at Old Trafford in July he suggested his impact could not be truly measured until he was at least three months into the job.
Van Gaal still believes in the point he was trying to make – that it will take time to impose his philosophy – but he feels he is still having to answer unneccessary questions.
Ahead of tonight’s match at the Hawthorns against West Brom, the 63 year old said: “I have said it was very stupid to say three months because then you (media) are only talking about three months. It is always the performance that counts, but the performance always goes up and down. Then we rise. When that date is, or what that match is, depends.”
United made an indifferent start under Van Gaal but, with £150 million (Dh887m) spent on new players over the summer, he is moulding a new team. He expects the process to take time but he is confident, from experience, that everything will come good.
The vastly-experienced coach had a rocky spell after taking charge at Bayern Munich in 2009. Pressure mounted after a poor opening and by November there was speculation he could be sacked. But fortunes turned after an impressive Champions League win away at Juventus and Van Gaal’s men went on to reach the final of that competition and win the Bundesliga.
Van Gaal feels United are still looking for the spark that could provide that Juventus-like turning point, despite successive wins over West Ham and Everton, but he thinks it could come at any time.
He said: “I believe we won 4-1 in Juventus, a fantastic game – that gave us a psychological benefit.
“But that was a very good game – against Everton we could not say it was very good. The first 60 minutes, maybe, but a game lasts 90 minutes.
“I don’t think points are very important in the process. It’s the game, it’s the style, it’s the formation, it’s the philosophy that we have to judge and not the points.”
United could have a number of players back in contention with Ander Herrera, Chris Smalling, Ashley Young, Phil Jones and Michael Carrick back in training.
Victory for West Brom would move them level on points with United but, while manager Alan Irvine believes they are in transition, he is wary of their threat.
He said: “They are still Manchester United and have some great players. It’s going to be a huge game for our club, players and fans.”
