Louis Van Gaal begins his career as manager of Manchester United by taking on a side made famous by a former Old Trafford great – David Beckham, as the Red Devils begin their preseason US tour with a high-profile clash against the LA Galaxy in the International Champions Cup.
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The game is set for 10.30 pm ET (8 am IST, 3.30 am BST (both Thursday) start with live coverage on Sony Six in India and Fox Soccer in the US. The match can be watched via live streaming online on MUTV HERE, while US viewers can live stream the action HERE. South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa viewers can catch the game HERE, while the match can be live streamed by viewers in Middle East and North Africa HERE.
Van Gaal made quite an impression in his first press conference as United manager last week, and the former Netherlands, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Ajax boss did not mince too many words when he was asked his thoughts on United's jet-setting tour of America.
"We have to prepare the season and when you have commercial activities and dreadful distances, having to fly a lot and the jet lag, it is not very positive for a good preparation," Van Gaal told the media assembled in Los Angeles. "The tour was already arranged and I shall adapt and United will do everything to apply to my rules, but I have said that already."
The new United manager has had some time to take a look at his players since taking over in the middle of last week. It will be interesting to see what sort of team Van Gaal starts with in the friendly against LA Galaxy, with several players keen to impress the Dutchman as they look to lock-in their futures at Old Trafford.
"I have to say that it has been fantastic," Van Gaal said about the reaction from the players during the training sessions so far. "Maybe you think every coach who is new should say that but I mean it. They are anxious to follow the instructions of my assistants. The focus I have seen in the training sessions is top-level, but we have to see if the performance is top-level.
"But I am very happy with the labour of my players in the days I have been with them."
United fans could also get to see their two new signings – Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw – in action, with the latter insisting he is raring to go and prove his worth after his big-money move from Southampton.
"I don't feel any pressure to come in for [Patrice] Evra," Shaw, who is expected to replace the Frenchman as first-choice left-back following Evra's move to Juventus, told the club's official website. "He has been great for the club for the last 10 years and I hope I can carry that on.
"There is always going to be pressure, no matter where you go, but I try not to focus on that. I try to focus on my own game, what I do on the pitch.
"And with the new gaffer you have to impress on the pitch and that is something I am looking forward to, and hopefully in these pre-season games I am looking to show him what I can do."
It might just be a preseason game, but Van Gaal showed his penchant for meticulous planning, by revealing he had already studied his opponents and was leaving nothing to chance.
"We have analysed Galaxy and I expect a very organised and tactical team that are aggressive in attack and want to press," he said. "They are already in the rhythm of the season and we started three days ago. We are not well prepared or fit yet, but I hope we can give a good performance."
