Premier League debut beckons for Manchester United coach Louis van Gaal

Just a few days remain until Louis van Gaal takes his spot on the sidelines for the first time in the Premier League as coach of Manchester United. Despite an undefeated pre-season campaign, van Gaal thinks the team can be much better.

Manchester United fans gave the team’s new head coach, Louis van Gaal, a warm welcome to Old Trafford this week as the Reds played their final pre-season friendly, winning 2-1 against Valencia. The win capped a perfect preseason campaign that saw the Reds win every game during a tour through America, including the International Champions Cup final against Premier League rival Liverpool.

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The stage is set for the Premier League kick-off this weekend against Swansea, but the notoriously difficult-to-please van Gaal still sees room for improvement.

"I think it was our worst match to date," van Gaal said after the match against Valencia. "The boys wanted to show the capacity we showed in the United States perhaps a bit too much. There were a lot of wrong passes, wrong choices and we didn't press so well.”

Technical criticisms aside, however, Manchester United put on a dominant performance against Valencia, only lapsing in concentration for about 15 minutes in the second half. That is a development that the team’s new Dutch coach is very happy to see.

“In the end, we were the winners because we were fighting until the last minute. That's a good signal, I believe.” (Louis van Gaal)

Another positive signal this week was van Gaal’s nomination of Wayne Rooney as team captain for the 2014/15 season. There were reportedly a number of players in contention, but the Manchester United veteran earned van Gaal’s confidence. Darren Fletcher will serve as the team’s vice-captain.

Rooney has been with Manchester United since 2004, making his debut in a Champions League match against Fenerbahce and scoring a hat trick. He has 216 goals in 442 appearances for the Reds.

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"It is a role I will perform with great pride,” Rooney said. “Team spirit has always been very high in our dressing room and I am very grateful to the manager for the faith he has shown in me.”

An undefeated preseason, Van Gaal at the helm, and Rooney wearing the captain’s armband: Manchester United’s 2014/15 season is already shaping up to be one for the books.

The Reds’ first match of the Premier League season is Saturday, August 16 at Old Trafford against Swansea. Be sure to keep an eye on the @DHL_ManUtd twitter feed for the latest on the Reds, and of course check back on DHL InMotion for updates all season long.