mufc Herrera on Van Gaal's Philosophy and Tactics

[Mame Biram Diouf]

So what of Van Gaal, the man, the manager and his tactics? “The manager uses this word ‘philosophy’. His philosophy is nobody is more important than anybody else. There is no ‘pecking order’. Of course we have stars but between us we are 25 important players.

 

He is going to play who is better in that moment.

 

“His philosophy is keep the ball, have more possession than the opponent and the space is coming. When you play side to side three or four times, the space is coming. We have to improve, of course, because we want to be as high up the league as possible.

 

“Against Swansea we had possession, we keep the ball side to side, we didn’t give so many chances away and we were close to the box but the manager told us we have to ‘finish the job’. We crossed so many times, Luke (Shaw), Antonio (Valencia), Paddy (McNair), Ashley Young.

 

“He doesn’t like us to be ‘individualista’, an individual just thinking of themselves. He wants us to think as a group, a compact team, helping each other out. We are all in it together. His character is this: he’s fair. He’s very sincere. He always tell you things face to face - criticism and praise. When he feels something, he cannot keep it inside. He has to tell you. That’s important. You know what he’s thinking.’’

 

As is Angel di Maria, who moved to United after winning the Champions League with Real Madrid. “Di Maria was the MVP in the final!’’ smiled Herrera, who acknowledged that the Argentinian has had to tweak his style, dribbling less and passing more. “He is maybe the best in the team one-v-one - and Januzaj as well. Now we have a manager who wants to keep the ball, who wants to play one or two touches.

 

“Angel is doing very good because sometimes he prioritises to play one or two touches before (ahead of) his quality. He puts the passing first. I think Louis van Gaal wants him side to side, and after that the space is coming and he can make one-v-one.”

 

 

 

Just confirms what most of us thought already