to a 2-1 loss at home to Swansea City on Saturday in his first Premier
League game as manager.
The 63-year-old Dutchman is bidding to transform United's fortunes
after a dismal seventh-place finish last season, but his tenure got
off to a similarly disappointing start as Swansea claimed a first
league win at Old Trafford.
Manchester United's Dutch manager Louis Van Gaal watches from the dug
out during the English Premier League football match between
Manchester United and Swansea City at Old Trafford in Manchester,
north west England on August 16, 2014. Swansea City won the game 2-1.
Ki Sung-yueng put Swansea ahead in the 28th minute and although new
United captain Wayne Rooney hooked home a 53rd-minute equaliser, Gylfi
Sigurdsson gave the Welsh side victory with 18 minutes to play.
"We were very nervous in the first half, made the wrong choices, and
that is a pity. In the second half we never played as a team.
Therefore I'm responsible," said Van Gaal.
"It is very disappointing that we have lost our first home match. We
didn't reach the level we can play at.
"That is disappointing because we have done it much better and when
you cannot do it in your first home match that is disappointing,
especially for the fans."
Van Gaal set his team out in the 3-4-1-2 formation that he had
successfully introduced in pre-season, but Ki's goal forced him into a
half-time switch.
Nani came on for striker Javier Hernandez, with Ashley Young moving to
left-back, but although Rooney equalised soon after and then hit the
post from a free-kick, United struggled to create further chances.
"We had more chances than Swansea, but that shall say nothing about
the result," Van Gaal added.
"It is the goals that count. I thought we would win (at 1-1), but
because we are not playing as a team in the second half, we made the
wrong decisions going forward.
"My players did their utmost best, which I said in the dressing room,
but you also need to play as a team and reach your level."
With new left-back Luke Shaw sidelined by a hamstring injury, United
had only one close-season signing in their starting XI in the shape of
former Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera.
Injuries obliged Van Gaal to hand competitive debuts to youngsters
Tyler Blackett and Jesse Lingard, but he dismissed suggestions that
the result would force him to take emergency action in the transfer
market.
"No, because that is a short-term assault. Of course we need
defenders, but I have already said that in former press conferences,"
he told BT Sport.
"You cannot say because of one game that we lost, and all the others
we won, that it is the defence (that is responsible). It's the team."
AFP
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