Louis van Gaal admits pressure from Ferguson is driving him on

Louis van Gaal has admitted that he feels pressure from Alex Ferguson's belief in him as Manchester United manager but that it drives him to achieve success for the club.

Ferguson praised the Dutchman this week, stating he had every confidence in the coach, whom he described as "great". Asked about this, Van Gaal said: "I am very happy with that because then you can work more easily but it's also pressure because he believes in you and that gives you that pressure that you have to get results. And it's not so easy to win Premier League matches.

“It’s fantastic. When you come to Manchester United, because I know Sir Alex, you hope that he will support you. And when he is supporting you, he is doing that not only this week but in other conferences he gave.

Belief and support

“He showed a lot of confidence and belief in me and you need that as a trainer-coach, as manager of Manchester United. You need that belief and support of managers like Sir Alex, but also from [directors] Bobby Charlton or David Gill.”

Under David Moyes last season United won only nine games at Old Trafford. However, Van Gaal has already claimed seven victories and believes Old Trafford has become a fortress again.

“We want to build a fortress at Old Trafford but we have made that already because we have won a lot. Also, with very great results, 3-0 and 4-0. I’m happy with that but then we have to continue,” he said.

Van Gaal believes that sides once more arrive at Old Trafford hoping to stop United rather than attempt to win as they did last term. “Maybe that’s true but they can play how they want because that is their right. I’ve always said that, that’s why it’s more difficult. My record in away matches is not so bad when you compare it with my home matches as a trainer-coach. Because away, the teams are more open but here [at Old Trafford] they want to defend, which is why it’s more difficult.

Dominate “That’s why we want to create a certain play-style where we can dominate. I am saying every week that we dominate for 45-60 minutes – we must do it for 90 minutes. We did that against Hull, which was a very good match.”

In the weekend's 1-1 draw at Aston Villa, Wayne Rooney operated as a deep-lying midfielder and Van Gaal thinks the captain can be a success there, if required. "Yeah, but Wayne is a player who can play in different positions and I like that because I like multifunctional players, that's why I can use him as a midfielder, also as a striker and as an attacking midfielder.

“The last game he was more defensive midfielder . . . [but] I like him closer to the area than our own goal.”

Van Gaal, who has given all of his players Christmas Day off, admitted some of the squad can deal with the busy festive programme better than others. “For a few players it is fine because they recover very quickly but you also have players who do not recover quickly. So I have to rotate.

“My problem is I have a lot of injured players, so that’s the problem with these matches in the coming weeks.”

Question mark

For Newcastle United’s visit on St Stephen’s Day only Chris Smalling of his injured players has a chance to recover. Of Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and Luke Shaw, Van Gaal said: “No, they are not coming back. Smalling maybe. It’s a question mark.”

The manager refused to talk about reports that linking the club with Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale. “I cannot discus that with you. I discuss that with my CEO and not with anyone of the media,” he said.

Alan Pardew, Van Gaal's opposite number at Newcastle, is in the market for a striker in the upcoming transfer window.

“We need another striker in January if we can get one,” said Pardew, who is concerned about Papiss Cissé’s continuing knee problems in the wake of the Senegal forward undergoing surgery last April.

“Papiss is still not right,” said Pardew, who is currently restricted to using Cissé in brief cameo appearances from the bench. Guardian Service