On taking the United job......
First of all, I want to thank Sir Bobby Charlton because it's a great honour to come into this stadium and be guided by Sir Bobby Charlton.My first steps...okay, my first ones were with Bayern and Barcelona, but as a coach of United these were my first steps and I was very proud to do that with Sir Bobby Charlton. I have the age to have seen him playing so I know what he means for Manchester United and English football. It was a great honour to do that with him.
On what he hopes to achieve at Old Trafford......
I will do my utmost best. That's what I can give. I cannot give predictions because you never know. It's the biggest club of the world. Within two days, I know already how important Manchester United is but also how important the sponsors are. I have to work, I have to prepare a team, I have to adapt to this big club. It shall not be easy but I will do my utmost best and, when you see my career, you can see what I have won. That's all I can say. The future shall show if I can do that again.
On what lured him to the club.....
It's the biggest club because of how well it's known around the world. In sport, you are never the biggest club because every season you have to be prove. Last year, you were seventh so then you are not the biggest club. But it's well known all over the world. When I was in China or Brazil, people are talking about United when I was the coach of the Dutch team. That's the difference. There's a lot of expectation but it's also a great challenge because of that. Therefore, I have chosen this club. I worked for Barcelona - in my opinion, number one in Spain. I've coached Ajax - number one in the Netherlands, and I've coached Bayern Munich - number one in Germany. Now I'm in Manchester United - number one in England. I hope I fulfil the expectation but it shall be difficult.
My method is always the same. I want to look at the players now, the players present. Of course I know how the players play. But I don't know the players under my training or coaching. In the first three or four weeks, I want to see what they can do. Then maybe I will buy other players. The players we have bought now - Shaw and Herrera - they were already on the list. I gave my approval because I like them. First I want to see the players performing under my philosophy.
On the expectation.....
The owners and the CEO have a lot of confidence in me. They have come to me and I explained my philosophy and they were excited. Because of that I'm here. We have to wait and see if I can fulfil this expectation of those people and the supporters. The fans are very important, I know that. You cannot predict. In the world of football you cannot predict. Nobody could have predicted the Dutch did so well, nobody would have predicted Germany would beat Brazil 7-1. You know that so... why do you ask?
On the captaincy.....
All the players are possible candidates. I have to get to know them, so I will use four, five or six weeks. Or it could be two months. For me, the captain's role is very important. Therefore, I need time. Sometimes I haven't had the time - then I have to make quick decisions. But quick decisions are not always good. I'll use my time for it. I think a captain is very important.
The owners and the CEO, Ed Woodward, have asked me to give advice but the main project is the first team. That's more of a short-term thing than the youth - that's a long-term project. The first year or two years we have to separate them. Now, I need all my knowledge to transfer my philosophy into this selection. You have to give me time to do that. Not only you, but also the CEO and the owners.
On Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and Phil Neville......
Nicky Butt is already assisting us, Paul Scholes we shall find a role for him and also for Phil Neville, I believe. That's what we want. But it has to also be possible and we have to look at that. We have to adapt to the qualities of these people. It's not an easy job. We have to speak personally with them - that's why we have to wait and see.
On getting back to work straight away.....
(A holiday) is not allowed! Of course it was better I have a sabbatical or that I come in January. But I could not let them go when you have been asked by the biggest club in the world. It's a big challenge, a big ambition for me. When there is a challenge like this, I never let it go. This is a holiday for me. I like the way I can work.
I'm democratic, empathetic to human beings. Of course I have a strong personality, but the other characteristics are more important. That's the key of my personality.
On what would be a successful season....
I don't know. First, what I've already said, I have to see how the players perform my philosophy and how quick they can pick up this philosophy. Then I can answer. Now, I haven't worked with most of them so we have to wait and see. It's very important there's a click between players and the manager.
On his own expectations for next season......
For me, the challenge is always to come first. Not fourth. But when you have to analyse after one season, it's dependent on the click between the players and the manager.
I have never worked in the Premier League so it's a big challenge I wanted to take. I have worked in Spain and Germany and in my time of Barcelona I think at that time the Spanish league was the best league. And in my time in Germany we were the best league. And maybe, when I work here the Premier League is the best league!
On being autocratic......
The media wants to show that part of the personality. But that part of the personality is small. But when you repeat that everybody thinks like that. I'm always the same person. When I was 39, when I began at Ajax - I played professional football until I was 37 and an assistant - the personality hasn't really changed. It's the same. But autocratic and strong personality is not the same thing and a lot of people think it's the same. I have a strong philosophy. Every year I've trained, it confirms this philosophy. Sir Alex also had a strong philosophy and it was always affirming that because he won a lot of titles. I hope I can do that.
On Sir Alex Ferguson......
Sir Alex called me to congratulate me and we have spoken about getting a coffee or to eat with each other. We were always invited to UEFA forums and we would always have a glass of wine. We know each other very well. I shall drink coffee and wine with him - maybe the best wine I can imagine.
It's difficult to describe. I've only been here two days. I've met a lot of people and when you see those kind of people who love the club, you see it's a big family and they expect a lot from me. They are very excited to meet me. Can I fulfil that expectation? I think I can do it. But because of the greatness of this club it's also much more difficult than in another club. Also, this club is also guided in the commercial way and we have to fulfil that also. And that's not always possible to fulfil both commercial and football. That's my big challenge after two days. Maybe it will be changing after the US tour, but I don't think so!
On the importance of experienced players......
You have to know that I'm not always convinced of the experience of players. I've said a lot of times, a boy like Clarence Seedorf was 16 years old... I gave him his debut for Ajax at that time. At 16 he was sometimes more experienced than a player who was 30. It depends on the personality. You named Rooney. For example, Michael Carrick has been injured the day before and that's a blow for me because he's experienced. It's very important we have experienced players, but not only in age and football experience but experience as a human being. My philosophy isn't only the football player but in total. Then there are not so many experienced players.
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To say I'm excited is an understatement. Bring on the 16th August 2014, Bring on the English Premier League, Bring on the Louis Van Gaal Era.
Jade Christopher Bentley Adams signing off (@jcba)
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