Louis van Gaal 'won't be afraid of taking over at Manchester United' and wants to revive the club's fortunes, says Ryan Giggs

Louis van Gaal won’t be daunted by taking over at Manchester United and is ‘relishing’ the opportunity to revive the club’s fortunes, according to his assistant Ryan Giggs.
The Dutchman will arrive at Old Trafford next week after he fulfils his World Cup commitments with Holland following Saturday’s Third Place Playoff against hosts Brazil.
Giggs has had limited contact with the 62-year-old during the tournament but insists that he cannot wait to take up his new role.

Knock out: Louis van Gaal's Holland lost in the World Cup semi final to Argentina on penalties

Incoming: Van Gaal will not be 'afraid of taking over' at Old Trafford but wants to win the league

Holland train under watchful eye of Van Gaal ahead of semi final

 

Speaking at a press conference to announce Van Gaal’s first home game - a friendly against Valencia at Old Trafford on August 12 - Giggs said: ‘He’s a got a clear philosophy and he sticks to it.
'He won’t be afraid of taking over at Manchester United, he will relish it.
‘He’s been at Barcelona and Bayern Munich and, in the my view, Manchester United are the biggest.
'He won’t be apprehensive, he can’t wait for it.
‘It’s disappointing for him that Holland went out (on Wednesday) but it’s been a fantastic campaign starting with a fantastic result no one could foresee to beat Spain 5-1.
‘To get to the semi finals of the World Cup is a great achievement. It has excited everyone. He has mixed up his formations and juggled the players. He would have wanted to go further but it wasn’t to be.
‘I spoke to him a couple of times and swapped a few emails but it’s been difficult because he’s been travelling.’
Van Gaal will have little time to get to know his new players before United leave on the club’s pre-season tour of America a week on Friday.

Press conference: Ryan Giggs takes charge in Van Gaal's absence at Manchester United

All smiles: Giggs says 'to get to the semi finals of the World Cup is a great achievement' and it excites him

Anticipation: Giggs says he has spoken to Van Gaal 'a couple of times and swapped a few emails'

Man in charge: Ryan Giggs has been retained in his new position as assistant manager to Van Gaal

Watch Giggs, Scholes, Neville and Butt talking tactics at United

But Giggs believes that United will benefit from England’s early exit from the World Cup with Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw now able to be on the trip from the start, along with the likes of David De Gea, Juan Mata, Antonio Valencia and Shinji Kagawa.
He added: ‘The new manager will be joining us next week, probably in the early or middle part of the week, when he can meet the players.
‘It’s worked out quite well that the lads who unfortunately went out of the World Cup early can now travel.
‘We’ll have nine or 10 big names from the World Cup which is great for the fans in the USA and for the club as well.’
In Van Gaal’s absence, Giggs has been overseeing training with the help of new coaches Albert Stuivenberg and Marcel Bout who started work at Carrington on Monday.
The former United winger confirmed that they have been working to Van Gaal’s instructions, with the players ordered to do a double training session – including a rare evening workout – on Tuesday.

First day: New United signing Ander Herrera arrives for training at Carrington with his team-mates

Turning up: Michael Carrick arrives at Carrington the same day Van Gaal's Holland were knocked out

Will he get a chance? James Wilson arrives at Carrington, United's training HQ, and is snapped

Ready: Van Gaal will be 'relishing' taking over Manchester United for the upcoming season

Partners: Van Gaal and Robin van Persie are together in Brazil and will join up at Old Trafford too

He said: ‘Everything is planned through Louis, Albert and Marcel. They know how he works. The blueprint is prepared by Louis and we’re just following his plans.
‘It’s not ideal because you want all your players and manager there but it can be like this in a World Cup year. The difference is the manager involved in World Cup this time.
‘Preparations have gone well but we’ll all be together within a week and he can get to know the players. There’s plenty of time before the season starts.’
Giggs was asked about his meeting with Van Gaal in Holland in May when he was offered the job as No.2 and discussed the club with the new manager.
He said: ‘Basically it was just a couple of hours I spent with him going through the players at the club - ones going and maybe those coming in. It was just a chance to hear how he works and what he expects and for me to give an insight into Manchester United and anything I could help him with. It was not dwelling on last season.
‘We went through players who are here and he likes. I get to know the players we are looking at but some of them could still be part of the World Cup or on holiday. I’m not sure how many more will come in. We will have to wait and see. Everyone is excited by this new era.
'We are all pulling in the direction and we need to do that to get back to the top.’

United were launching REUNITED 14, a pre-season event at Old Trafford on Tuesday, August 12 which will see the club take on Valencia.

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