New Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal was characteristically blunt ahead of his side’s friendly against Real Madrid.
He had been blunt when describing United’s commercial obligations, blunt when talking about the traffic in Los Angeles, and openly apologetic for being late to a news conference for the first time in his life. He was blunt when explaining the progress of his squad.
Not one for bland public platitudes, Van Gaal is box office. The Dutchman is asserting his authority at his new club and has already won the respect of his players.
The biggest change he has made so far is switching United to a 3-5-2 system that has never been associated with a club where a 4-4-2 was long imprinted in the psyche, with two wingers played out wide.
Football and United have evolved, but with five across the middle, there is scope for width and attacking domination under Van Gaal.
The system also shifts quickly to a 5-3-2 when United defend. Against European champions Real Madrid on Saturday, once-ridiculed winger Ashley Young not only looked a revitalised figure as he scored twice and pushed Darren Fletcher for man-of-the-match award, but he fits the new system well, one with an emphasis on attacking.
“I can’t see my philosophy working with four defenders,” Van Gaal said. “It will be five. Maybe there will be a time when I have to play with four. We will see. Now all the sessions are arranged for the five-defenders system.”
Even before he took charge at United, when Van Gaal was in Brazil coaching the Dutch national team at the World Cup, his three assistant coaches were implementing the new system.
United’s players were told about the 3-5-2 design. Once Van Gaal joined them for the tour, he started playing 11 against 11 in training.
Rivals have been more circumspect in their impressions of the formation.
“It is not easy to implement a new system,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “It is important that the player is convinced, but it is difficult to say how long it will take.”
United fans will cut their team some slack after last season’s seventh-place finish, which resulted in the side missing a European place for the first time since English clubs were readmitted into Europe in 1990.
The new system also lends itself to United’s current personnel, which includes a surfeit of creative midfielders and a deficit of defenders. United are still looking at bringing defenders in during the transfer window.
Although they have to be on message with their manager, players appear to have genuinely warmed to the system.
Wayne Rooney, who looked a happy and productive figure on tour and is a candidate for the captaincy, along with Robin van Persie, Johnny Evans and Darren Fletcher, said: “It has been great.
“The manager has come in and we are playing a new system and learning that and trying to get better.
“Over the next few weeks, we will get better. It has been tough, but the results will come, I hope.”
The results already have. United hammered Los Angeles Galaxy 7-0, defeated Roma 3-2 and beat Inter Milan on penalties. Then came their most impressive win, a 3-1 victory over a strong Real Madrid side only a couple of days behind United in their pre-season preparation.
United play Liverpool, who beat them home and away in the Premier League last season, in tonight’s final of the International Champions Cup competition in Miami. It is only a pre-season tour, but so far so good for United.
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
