Manchester // Manager Louis van Gaal set his sights on English Premier League title glory after watching Manchester United hammer Queens Park Rangers 4-0 at Old Trafford yesterday.
Sixty days after being appointed the United coach, Van Gaal finally earned his first competitive win, thanks to goals from Angel di Maria, Ander Herrera, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata.
Van Gaal’s new-look side, which contained three debutants, ran Rio Ferdinand and his QPR teammates ragged all afternoon, and had they taken their chances, they would have scored many more.
Van Gaal laid out his lofty ambitions for the 20-time champions after the game.
“I want to win the Premier League title,” he said. “If it is not this year, then the second or third year.
“I want to give a championship to the fans.”
Van Gaal was happy to finally end his frustrating four-match winless run in the league and dedicated the victory to his wife, Truus.
“This is special because it is also the birthday of my wife,” he said. “I have already given her a present, but she said the biggest present shall be the victory. We give it to her.”
Di Maria’s early free-kick cleared everyone in the box and nestled into the goal to give United the lead.
The British-record signee set up Mata for United’s final goal and he also played a part in the build-up to Herrera’s strike, and also that of Rooney, who is now joint-third-highest scorer in Premier League history.
The fact that United were able to bring the rusty Radamel Falcao off the bench for the final 23 minutes shows how strong Van Gaal’s squad is in attack.
Despite the win, Van Gaal was not completely jubilant.
The Dutchman thinks his men can improve a lot, although he knows he will have a more settled squad now that the transfer window has closed.
“The result is fantastic, but I think we can do much better,” Van Gaal said. “I said, ‘Let’s make a new start today’.
“I have made now the [squad] selection of 27 players – three goalkeepers and 24 players. You shall see it Tuesday with the photoshoot, that is our squad.”
Van Gaal, who ditched his five-man defence for a 4-4-2 diamond, even managed to restrain himself when praising Di Maria.
“When you prepare three goals and make the first goal by yourself, then you cannot play bad, but he had a lot of unnecessary losses, so we can do better,” the former Ajax manager said.
United’s fluent, high-tempo play was a joy to watch at times, even though their defensive frailties are still clear to see.
Van Gaal will face tougher tests during his reign at United’s home of Old Trafford, but United fans will be pleased to hear that their manager is firmly committed to the kind of attacking football that was on display in Manchester yesterday.
“I have always played attacking football in my 35 years as manager,” he said.
“All my teams have scored the most of the league, so I hope at the end of this league, we shall score also the most.”
Van Gaal’s opposite number, Harry Redknapp, feels United are serious contenders for Uefa Champions League qualification.
“They have got a big chance of making the top four,” the QPR manager said.
“They have got some fantastic forward players.
“For us, it will be a tough season, but I still think we will be OK.”
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