Louis van Gaal: We’re starting to hit peak form again

Premier League

Louis van Gaal hopes the beginning of the new lunar year will herald the return of the Manchester United of old.

United face Swansea today for the first time since they ruined Van Gaal’s debut in the home dugout at Old Trafford six months ago.

United went into the opening weekend of the season on the back of a perfect pre-season tour in which they beat the Los Angeles Galaxy, Inter Milan, Roma, Real Madrid and Liverpool.

Winning the International Champions Cup was no big achievement for Van Gaal, but the United boss must have been impressed with the performances of his team, which were personified by destruction and pace — two hallmarks of the club’s most successful manager Alex Ferguson.

The upbeat feeling around the squad was punctured, though, when they lost 2-1 to the Swans in their first competitive match.

Van Gaal said after the final whistle that the confidence of his team would be ‘smashed’ by the defeat, but he feels United are starting to hit their peak again now despite some indifferent performances of late.

“I think the confidence at this moment is the same as (after the tour). When you see the scores of the last 19 or 20 matches we are the best team in the league. The players have experience of playing in the system with my philosophy.”

The Dutchman once said he possesses an “iron shield” to protect himself from criticism and he wants his players to adopt the same approach.

In Van Gaal’s eyes, it is the media which is responsible for ramping up criticism of his side. “The media is always critical,” Van Gaal said.

“It’s your part of the game. That is your role, so we have to manage that and we manage that fantastically, I believe. It is very important that we still believe in winning a title, that we are improving in the process, that’s not so easy.

Van Gaal let out a roar of laughter when informed over 80%of those polled by the Manchester Evening News said they were happy with United’s progress so far under the former Barcelona boss.

“Over 80%?” Van Gaal boomed.

“That is unbelievable! (That comes) in spite of your criticism, fantastic! Thank you.”

Van Gaal confirmed Robin van Persie and Phil Jones have overcome their injury troubles and are back for the trip to the Liberty Stadium.

Michael Carrick remains sidelined by a calf injury he suffered last month, but Van Gaal says the midfielder is close to a return.

Swansea will be boosted against United by the return of Gylfi Sigurdsson, who has completed a three-match suspension for his FA Cup red card at Blackburn.