Surely Van Gaal will run rings round all

Mark my word: In May 2015, Wayne Rooney will lift the English Premier League title. To my Manchester United colleagues, rehearse for the celebrations for the better part of the next eight months ahead of the official announcement. 

Here is why. Louis van Gaal. I am certain the new Manchester United manager will lead the Red Devils to glory and silence our “noisy neighbours” on the blue side of Manchester.

Van Gaal wins titles, something he has been doing distinctively at the dugout for the better part of the last two decades.

Our 63-year-old has claimed league titles in each of the clubs he has managed. They include Ajax Amsterdam and AZ Alkmaar in his native Holland, Bayern Munich in German’s Bundesliga and better still Barcelona in Spain where he was assisted by one Jose Mourinho.

For those still in doubt, better add this haul to the several other team and individual honours; the Uefa Cup, the Uefa Super Cup, Copa Del Rey, Uefa Champions League, alongside the manager of the year awards in Germany and Holland.

With such success, Arsene Wenger, Manuel Pellegrini and Brendan Rodgers have a reason to be afraid. Simply put, United have acquired a born winner for a manager.

THE BEST

If you still beg to differ, kindly contact the American stock exchange that also thinks Van Gaal is the best thing to have happened to United since Alex Ferguson.

For a week after his appointment, the USA stock exchange price (where the club is listed) improved the club’s share value by 5 per cent.
If you look at the way Van Gaal has gone about fine tuning his pre-season squad, then glory is coming back to Old Trafford. Firstly, Ryan Giggs was installed as the Dutchman’s right hand man back in June. It is hard to see who could have beaten the Welshman to this role.

As the English would say, this decision is no fluke. Rather, it is a well calculated move by the boss to ensure the club’s most experienced and decorated player stays in the inner circle.

United fans have also had the opportunity to sample what lies ahead on the pitch where United remained unbeaten throughout pre-season. And for clarification’s sake, the Red Devils were not playing against - with all due respect - Peterborough United, Yeovil FC, Saint Hamilton and the likes.

NOT DISAPPOINTED

Rather Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Valencia, Liverpool and LA Galaxy were on the end of this football lesson. You can imagine what the results have done to instill confidence in the entire team.

The new signings have not disappointed. They hit the ground running with the force of a quivering magnetic arrow. Wonderkid Luke Shaw and the new “Paul Scholes”, Ander Herrera, are certain to light up Old Trafford this season while the likes of Javier Hernandez, Maroune Fellaini, Wilfred Zaha, Anderson and Nani look set to make way for (if all goes well before the transfer window closes) greater talents in the frame of Juventus anchorman Aturo Vidal, Real Madrid forward Angel di Maria and Sporting Lisbon wing back Marcos Rojo.

Remember Robin Van Persie will be keen to repay his manager’s faith after being granted an extended holiday to recover from his World Cup exploits, while Rooney is certain to be firing on all cylinders this term after describing the recent accomplishment as “a proud and wonderful moment”.

For all who will be lining up against the Red Devils in the league, from Arsenal to Aston Villa, Chelsea to Sunderland, and Manchester City to Liverpool, all I can say is be afraid, very afraid. All I can sing for now is Glory! Glory! Man United!

(The author is former Vice President of the Republic of Kenya and a Manchester United fan)