Holland star Nigel de Jong says Louis van Gaal is “the general” to lead Manchester United back to the top.
But the midfielder has warned fans of Old Trafford’s fallen giants not to demand instant success as his current national team coach prepares to rebuild the side.
After David Moyes’ failed 10-month reign, United have turned to 62-year-old Dutchman Van Gaal on a three-year contract once the World Cup is over.
De Jong, who won the league title with Manchester City in 2012 before moving to Italian giants AC Milan, says English football is a challenge, but van Gaal’s experience and titles at top clubs like Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich will help.
“I think he will do well,” he told Sport360° exclusively. “The Premier League is not easy and it’s a big club, but I think he will do well because he has the experience at big clubs over the years.
“United need a manager who stands above the group and he’s that kind of coach. He’s very strict, he demands the best, but he can gel a team very well.
“He is a general, a kind of schoolteacher who tries to teach you a lot of things about how the game is going to be played. With the young players he can mould them into great footballers because he has so much experience.
“The training sessions are always good with Holland, the exercises are always good with a high intensity.
“With van Gaal and United they have to rebuild the team because we saw what happened this year. It takes time to get success, though, and you can’t expect miracles
immediately with van Gaal there.”
One factor that could help van Gaal settle quickly and flourish is he will have his Dutch captain Robin van Persie to lead his United attack.
“Of course this might help Robin too,” added De Jong, 29. “Robin’s a great footballer, a great person and one of my best friends off the pitch. I don’t think he needs a motivator to get the best out of him and van Gaal does what’s best for the team.”
