Ryan Giggs is confident Manchester United will be ‘back where they belong’ next season after a disastrous 2013/14 campaign.
The Reds finished a lowly seventh place last year in the Premier League and failed to get into Europe under David Moyes, who was replaced by Giggs with four games remaining.
The Welshman will spend this season in his new role as Louis van Gaal’s assistant, who will be joining the club next week after taking the Netherlands to the semi-finals of the World Cup.
And Giggs believes Van Gaal is the right man to return United to their glory days.
“Everyone is excited,” said the 40-year-old at a press conference.
“We had a disappointing season last year but everyone is keen to get us back where we belong and that is at the top. He (Van Gaal) won’t be afraid of taking over Manchester United.
“He is not scared about the challenge, he is not apprehensive. He can’t wait and he has got the experience.”
Van Gaal will travel with the squad for their pre-season tour of the USA next Friday where they will face Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy, AS Roma, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
Joining the Dutchman will be assistant coaches Marcel Bout and Albert Stuivenberg which could well mean Giggs is left in the shade.
Also making the move to Manchester will be Frans Hoek, goalkeeping coach for the Dutch squad and the brains behind Tim Krul’s appearance in the penalty shoot-out win against Costa Rica.
One player looking to impress the new coaching staff will be Darren Fletcher, who will try to reclaim a regular place in the squad after battling a debilitating bowel condition for three years.
“It is a fresh start,” said the 30-year-old, whose initial taste of pre-season first-team action came in United’s 2003 trip to the US.
“You want to go and impress him (Van Gaal) as soon as possible and get your name in the team and in the squad for the next season.
“We are all in the same position. We have to impress the new manager. I think it is going to be exciting times again.”
Van Gaal’s first home game at Old Trafford will be against Valencia on August 12, which will be the final pre-season game and has been dubbed as ‘Reunited14’.
Image courtesy of Press Association, via YouTube, with thanks.
