Manchester United Signing Blind Hopes to Adapt Quickly to Premier League

Manchester United's new signing Daley Blind has admitted he will need some time to adjust to the pace of the Premier League and to his new role as a holding midfielder in Louis van Gaal's 4-4-2 formation.

The 24-year-old star completed his move to Old Trafford on deadline day after impressing van Gaal during their time together with the Netherlands national team.

Even though the versatile star took up roles at left-back and centre-half during the World Cup, van Gaal deployed him at the base of his new midfield diamond during his Premier League debut against QPR.

Blind actually played the majority of last season at Ajax as a holding midfielder, and speaking with Manchester United's official website about his new role at Old Trafford, he said: "It was a bit different because the opponents were going back so I had a lot of space to control the ball and play it to the sides, mixing it from side to side.

"I had a lot of space and that was nice for me. We played our own game and we played well. When we lost the ball we went after it as a team. We won the ball back a lot, so we did a good job," Blind said.

"Of course it was a higher tempo and I can feel that also in my legs, but I can play 90 minutes and it was okay. I have only played in the Dutch league and in international football, but I think the Premier League is a higher level and there is a higher speed in the game."

Blind doesn't hide the major influence of van Gaal in his decision to join United this summer, and expects the boss to make him a better player.

"He is very honest to everybody, he knows what he wants and he knows his philosophy" Blind said. "He can bring that to the players and he can make a team with everybody.

"That is a good start for us if you want to work for each other. I have really learned a lot from van Gaal and I like working under him.

"I haven't worked that long with him. I only worked with him at the World Cup and in the qualification games. A lot of the time I worked with Frank de Boer at Ajax and I think Ajax made me more the player I am now. Of course, I was with van Gaal at the World Cup. He also helped me a lot and I have learned a lot from him. I hope to learn a lot from him in the next season as well.

"I think he can make me a better player in terms of positioning, where to stand and tactics in games because midfield is an important position to play. I hope I can get better at it every day."