Louis van Gaal believes Manchester United can close the gap on champions-elect Chelsea next season after getting his way over plans for the club's pre-season tour of America.
Van Gaal was critical of the exhausting US tour that was already in place before he started the job last summer, taking the club to Los Angeles, Washington DC, Detroit, and Miami in the less than two weeks.
Although United won all their pre-season fixtures, the Dutchman blamed the heavy schedule for their worst start in 28 years as he picked up just 13 points from his first 10 games in charge.
Louis van Gaal believes Manchester United can close the gap on Chelsea next season for the title race
This summer he has insisted on United having just two bases, in Seattle and San Jose, and one less fixture in an effort to deny Jose Mourinho another headstart next season.
'It is not a big gap, I don't think so,' he said. 'You have seen our matches between the top league clubs. You can judge that when clubs play against each other. The board of Manchester United have given three years to get the objective.
'This year, okay we are not challenging but we are very close to the second position. I think Chelsea are far above the other clubs but it can be different next year. We will have a different squad, not just us but Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool and all the other clubs.
'We have started very badly this season. When you cut out the start we shall equal Chelsea for example but we have to start better.
'Manchester United has already adapted to a better preparation. We shall have two bases in the US so we are not flying between matches, we are going via bus which is better.
'The temperature is lower because we are on the other coast to last year. They have adapted to my criteria so we shall have a better preparation.
'When I previewed our preparation now it looks better but we have to see of course. Then we have to make the balance in our selection better and then we have to perform better than this year.'
MANCHESTER UNITED 'INCONVENIENT' PRE-SEASON TOUR 2014
July 24 - Manchester United 7-0 LA Galaxy (Pasadena)
Attendance: 86,432
July 26 - Manchester United 3-2 Roma (Denver)
Attendance: 54, 117
July 30 - Manchester United 0-0 Inter Milan (Washington)
Attendance: 61,238
August 2 - Manchester United 3-1 Real Madrid (Michigan)
Attendance: 109,318
August 5 - Manchester United 3-1 Liverpool (Miami)
Attendance: 51,014
Total distance covered between July 24 and August 5: about 13,500 mile
No comments:
Post a Comment