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LONDON. – When a senior Manchester United figure was asked if Louis van Gaal needed a break after the World Cup soccer finals, the response was blunt: “Holidays are for wimps.”
Against that bullish backdrop, and with just two days off following Holland’s ­impressive march to third place in Brazil, the Old Trafford giants’ new manager started work yesterday.

In the morning, the 62-year-old was driven to United’s AON Training Complex, where he was given a tour of the facilities before meeting his new players and the Reds’ ­support staff.

His team of coaches, including United legend Ryan Giggs, have been overseeing pre-season training since last week, and LVG will be quickly brought up to speed before taking charge of his first session.

Former manager David Moyes was hands-on, with his willingness to be in the thick of games of keep-ball and other training drills, and the players will find Van Gaal gets equally involved.

With a whistle never far from his lips, giving him the air of a strict PE teacher, United’s stars will have to get used to their new manager’s ­willingness to frequently interrupt sessions to get his point across.

The Dutchman has already introduced double training sessions from afar, while in Brazil, and now he is on the ground to oversee them in person, ­the squad can expect the hardline approach to continue.

Under his ­instruction, the first team must now eat lunch with the club’s youth players and coaches, in a clear bid to restore the unity and respect lost during Moyes’ ill-fated reign.- The Mirror.

Van Gaal’s supreme ­confidence in his own ability is renowned, but that alone will not be enough to restore his new charges to the status of title contenders.

Don’t forget, United need to bridge last season’s humiliating 22-point between themselves and ­champions and neighbours Manchester City.

Club legend Bryan Robson believes United can challenge for the English Premier League title this season, and banish the misery of last campaign under Moyes, who lasted just 10 months in the job.

“United can bounce back straight away,” said former England skipper Robson, who spent 13 years at Old ­Trafford. “You could see Holland were very well organised and there was discipline. Hopefully, he can bring that to Manchester. I think he will.

“His CV is great. He has got great experience with top clubs and top players.

“A lot of the players here let ­themselves down and didn’t perform the way they had under Sir Alex Ferguson. They will be up for the challenge and will be excited by the new coach.”

Although United have spent close to £60million recruiting Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw, Van Gaal wants at least two more defenders and another midfielder before the season kicks off with the visit of Swansea on August 16.

One other issue he must resolve swiftly is the captaincy, which appears a choice between strikers Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney.

Under Ferguson, RVP was the favourite with Rooney out of favour. Under Moyes, the roles were reversed.

Above all, Van Gaal must rediscover United’s identity, which disappeared when Ferguson stepped down and installed Moyes as his successor.

The club’s hierarchy expected a drop-off following Fergie’s retirement, but no-one ­anticipated a seventh-place finish and the indignity of no European football in the coming season.

Van Gaal certainly has the cojones for the job and the experience, having won league titles at Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

His impressive performance guiding Holland in Brazil confirmed his tactical acumen at the highest level and ability to take bold decisions.

Fans will hope he can restore the swagger, passion and attacking flair that made Manchester United such a formidable force in English and European football over the past two decades.

That job began yesterday, with LVG cast in the role of club saviour.

The man nicknamed The Iron Tulip, because of his huge self-confidence, must now show he has nerves of steel to restore United to their former glory and consign the misery of the Moyes era to the past. – The Mirror.