Premier League football: Manchester United v Swansea City preview
New Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal gets his first taste of life in the Premier League
- Gary Rose
Published: Friday, 15 August 2014 at 7:18 am
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Much has been written about Louis van Gaal's tough – even arrogant – approach to man management, but now it's time for his players to do the talking as Man Utd open the new season against Swansea City at Old Trafford.
With Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and the Dutch national side on his CV, van Gaal's managerial pedigree is second to none. And, despite last season's hiccups, you'd be brave to best against a United win today.
It's a new era for Wayne Rooney too, club captain for the first time following Nemanja Vidic's transfer to Inter Milan. He appears to be responding well to the faith placed in him by van Gaal, and the fact that there hasn't been another summer of speculation about his future can only be positive for both the player and Man Utd.
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Swansea, meanwhile, have lost their way somewhat after the early daring of previous manager Michael Laudrup, but with Garry Monk secure in his position the Welsh faithful will hope for at least a statement of intent in their opening game.
Authors
Gary Rose
Brighton resident Gary Rose mostly writes TV and film reviews for the print edition of Radio Times, although he did spend a few years composing travel features for the web. His specialist subjects include 1970s and '80s cinema, music documentaries, astronomy, and alternative-lifestyle shows about escaping the rat race. Outside of Radio Times he drums in a psychedelic rock band, occasionally reviews wines and trains in the Japanese martial art of ninjutsu.
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