Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal believes his players are starting to understand what he wants from them three months into his Old Trafford reign.
But the Dutchman said Friday there was still room for improvement and for a greater balance between defence and attack in his side as they look to recover from a slow start to the season.
Van Gaal admitted on his arrival in English football that it would take time for his ideas to be implemented by a squad which has been significantly re-shaped since United finished a relatively lowly seventh in the Premier League last season.
However, three wins in their last four games and a place in the top four of the Premier League ahead of the weekend games suggests United are making progress, although van Gaal is not fully satisfied yet.
“I think they do understand the philosophy but they have to perform that philosophy,” said van Gaal, who arrived at Old Trafford in pre-season after guiding the Netherlands to third place at this year’s World Cup in Brazil.
“We have to see if it works at a higher level,” he said. We need more balance in the team. I said that after the match against Everton.
“I am looking for balance in the team, not only spectacular attacking football. When you lose the ball, you must have a shape as a team and then you can defend more easily. You can kill the game better.
“That is also a part of the philosophy but that is also because I am choosing more creative, attacking football players. We are looking for that balance and, okay, we shall see if the time that I have had is long enough.”
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