Erik ten Hag can prove Louis van Gaal wrong at Manchester United

At his introductory press conference in Old Trafford's No.7 suite, Louis van Gaal's opening address was a glowing paean to the present Sir Bobby Charlton and then the first question arrived: "What impact do you hope to make in your first season with Manchester United?"

"I do my utmost best," Van Gaal began. "That's what I can give. I cannot give predictions because you never know. It's the biggest club in the world. Within two days, I know already how important Manchester United is but also how important the sponsors are."

Van Gaal's withering description of United on Monday as a 'commercial club' Erik ten Hag should eschew is consistent with his outlook since his first official day as their manager. A week after his introduction to the press, Van Gaal criticised United's gruelling pre-season tour schedule, blaming 'commercial activities'.

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Van Gaal 'made them pay every penny' over the tawdry manner of his imminent sacking in the aftermath of United's FA Cup victory in 2016 and there is still a bitter aftertaste from his tainted trophy.

Since he was driven out of Carrington for the final time on a sunny May afternoon nearly six years ago, Van Gaal has described Ed Woodward as an 'evil genius' and 'somebody with zero understanding of football who was previously an investment banker'. He claimed 'the balance between the football department and commercial department is not right and even slopes over to the commercial' at United and added 'it cannot be a good thing when a club is run solely from a commercially-driven perspective'.

Van Gaal was booed by some United supporters as he hoisted the FA Cup and Jose Mourinho's name was chanted on the Bakerloo line as