Football
10y

Giggs: Life different under Van Gaal

Ryan Giggs says life under Louis van Gaal at Manchester United is a radical departure from the Sir Alex Ferguson era.

- Van Gaal wants 'English-style' captain
- Van Gaal praises Rooney in comeback win

Giggs won 13 Premier League titles under Ferguson, and following the sacking of David Moyes in April, took charge of United on an interim basis for their final four games of the season.

He then ended his 22-year playing career to become assistant manager to Van Gaal, who has introduced a new 3-4-1-2 formation and training methods which appear to be paying dividends already.

United capped off an unbeaten preseason tour with a 3-1 victory over Liverpool on Monday night to win the International Champions Cup.

"It has been different. The manager works in different ways than I have maybe seen before," Giggs told MUTV.

"Obviously a coach's work is done before training, after training and during training as well so it is different from being a player when you are just focused on training and that is when you do your stuff."

Giggs added that he is relishing his new role as assistant manager and all the responsibilities that come with it.

"It has been good. I have been analysing games, presenting to the [players] and it has been a good learning experience," he said.

"A lot of the courses teach you to take yourself out of your comfort zone because that will improve you. Some of the things I have been doing have been out of my comfort zone but I have really enjoyed it.

"It would have been stranger and more difficult if I didn't have the games that I did at the end of last season.

"I had a little taste of it last season, which as I keep saying was unbelievable for me and was something that will be great for me in the long run. In the short time that I have been a coach, that has helped me."

Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney feels United's new-look system suits him, while he says it has been "great" playing for Van Gaal.

Rooney, who was named the International Champions Cup's best player, has operated at the top of the Dutchman's formation.

And he told Sky Sports: "It's been a good few weeks. We've got a new manager who wants us to play a different style of football. We've had to adapt. We've had some good results against top opposition so we can be pleased.

"I think the system suits the team, not only myself. The manager came in and had a look at the players we've got. He's done what he thinks is best suited for our team.

"He's a tough manager but he's been great since he came in. He's given us all a different way of looking at football, which we haven't had before. It's been great for us and hopefully that will continue."

Rooney added on United's successful International Champions Cup campaign: "We wanted to win games, play well and obviously we've done that.

"We've won a trophy as well. It's always nice to beat Liverpool. We're happy with the work we've done out here [in the United States]; now we go on to Valencia [for a preseason friendly at Old Trafford] and then the season starts."

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