Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has talked up Louis Van Gaal’s ability to bring success to Manchester United.
The Dutchman has suffered a disappointing start to life at Old Trafford, managing just two points from his first three Premier League games in charge.
But former stopper Schmeichel believes that, despite a difficult start, Van Gaal’s summer business proves he has what it takes to return the glory days back to the red side of Manchester.
Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “He is a manager who was very busy with the World Cup.
“He has come in very late and hasn’t had a lot of time to assess the squad. But he is not a manager that buys players and then decides what to do with them afterwards. He knows exactly what he wants.
“He has brought in some really big signings. Falcao for one is an unbelievable coup. He could have gone to Real Madrid but he chose Manchester United, and I think that shows the world that the big players will still come despite the recent issues.”
And the Champions League winning goalkeeper has also praised the decision to hand striker Wayne Rooney with the captain’s armband.
“I always knew that Wayne was a leader,” he admitted.
“I always saw him as potential captain and I’m glad he gave it to him. I think throughout the whole of his Manchester United career he has been fully committed. Whatever the manager has asked him to do he has done exceptionally well.
“I think he has easily been our best performer over the last five years, the most consistent performer, and I think it is only right that he is rewarded with the captain’s armband.
“You won’t ever see a player of that quality who is prepared to play left-back if he was asked to. Or play midfield. He’d even go in goal for the team. I really like that kind of mentality and I am very big Wayne Rooney fan.
“He is absolutely tremendous for the football club.”
However, despite all of his praise for Manchester United’s summer, Schmeichel admits that the early signs suggest it’ll be Chelsea and Manchester City doing battle for the title come the end of the season, particularly when you consider the signing Chelsea have made this summer.
“I think Chelsea have signed some brilliant players,” he added.
“It looks like they have done the best business out of everyone in Europe. Cesc Fabregas has been absolutely fantastic in midfield, while Diego Costa has scored four goals in three games so far, which I think is quality.
“By looking at all of the squads, it certainly looks like it’s going to be between Manchester City and Chelsea.
“If you go by the start, Chelsea are clear favourites to win it. But they were also up there last year, so, it’s difficult to say.”
Peter Schmeichel was speaking at the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Barclays Spaces for Sports programme.
The programme is a partnership between Barclays and the Football Foundation and has developed 200 community sports sites across the UK, supporting more than 40 different sports, since it was launched in 2004.
Spaces for Sports is part of Barclays’ commitment to change five million young futures – Barclays’ goal to build the next generation of global achievers by enabling them to develop enterprise, employability and financial skills.
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