Tactical Genius Louis Van Gaal Vows To Stick To His Static 3-5-2 Formation After 7-0 Win

Louis van Gaal last night insisted he will stick with the 3-5-2 system that brought him a “fantastic” 7-0 win in his first game
in charge of Manchester United.

The Dutchman led his side to a
comfortable victory over the MLS outfit, with Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young and Reece James all bagging braces.

And the former Netherlands boss believes
his charges got off to the best possible
start in their new shape:
“The result always matters,” revealed the
62-year-old. “With such a result you get
confidence and confidence in a new
system.
“We introduced a new system and played
just two times on the training pitch eleven
v eleven. It is no so much, but the boys are willing to pick up the information.
“It is fantastic how they have performed
today.”
With a glut of internationals in his squad,
Van Gaal and his coaching staff have been
forced to work without their full
compliment of players so far in pre-
season. Nevertheless, the new United
coach remained happy – if not a little
surprised – with his side after such a
comfortable win.
“Last week, ten players who played
tonight were not even in our training
complex.
“But when you see us train, you can
expect something but not 7-0. It was a
surprise, but they were also beautiful
goals.
“It was not just the goals, but the
beautiful attacks.”
New signings Luke Shaw and Ander
Herrera both started in the Dutchman’s
new-look 3-5-2 shape, with the latter
particularly impressing, and Van Gaalinsists he had no time to waste in
switching formations – even if the
unbalanced squad he inherited makes things tricky.

“When you want to change a system, you
must start at once. We don’t have time to
prepare for other things.
“The other system they can play is 4-3-3
and they have played it for many years.
“I can change back if the system doesn’t
work. With the quality of the players we  have, I can play 4-3-3 with three strikers on the bench, bit I want to play with two
strikers.
“We have four number tens, so the selection is not balanced in my eyes. I have decided to play this system because of the quality of the players. “But if we lose, I can change back to another system.”

When I see my team playing a new system, it is better to win 7-0 than to lose because the players will then doubt the system.

“But now I don’t have that problem.”