Giggs Admits Van Gaal Start Delay isn't Ideal for Manchester United

Manchester United assistant manager Ryan Giggs has hailed the appointment of Louis van Gaal but admits his delay in taking charge of the team is "not ideal".

The Premier League giants confirmed the Dutchman as their new manager in May, but he has already lost the beginning of the team's pre-season as he will not finish his job as Netherlands boss until Saturday's World Cup third place playoff.

"Of course, it's not ideal - you want all your players and your manager together to start pre-season. But in a World Cup year it can be like this and I have to say preparations have gone well so far," Giggs told Manchester United's official website.

Nevertheless, Giggs says the preparation is going well as he has been leading the team in contact with Van gaal while assisted by new coaches Albert Stuivenberg and Marcel Bout.

"Everything's been planned off Louis. Albert and Marcel know how he works so the blueprint has been prepared by Louis and we're just following his plans. I think we'll find out today when he arrives. It will be sometime early to middle of next week" the former United midfielder said.

Van Gaal is expected to join the rest of the squad next week just in time to make the United States pre-season tour.

"Within a week we'll all be together and then we're spending two-and-a-half weeks in the US so he'll get to know the players there. There's plenty of time before the season starts" Giggs said.

Giggs also revealed he spoke with van Gaal about United's summer transfer plans before the World Cup, with Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw joining the club since then.

"When we met at the end of last season we went through the players who are here and some of the players he liked that will maybe come in. Two have already come in," said Giggs.

"It's always hard during the World Cup because a lot of the players you're looking at could still be part of the World Cup, or they've just gone out and are now going on holiday for a rest. I'm not sure how many players will come in - we'll have to wait and see."

Discussing van Gaal's modus operandi, Giggs said: "Louis has a clear philosophy and he sticks to that philosophy. He won't be afraid of taking over Manchester United. He'll relish it. He'll look forward to it. He's been at Bayern, Barcelona... he's been at huge clubs. Obviously, in my view, Manchester United is the biggest.

"He's not scared about the challenge, he's not apprehensive - he can't wait. He has the experience to do it. It won't be easy. It never is. The Premier League's a tough league to win but that's what we'll try to do. I was excited about how forthright and how clear he was about what he expects from the staff and the players."