Louis van Gaal’s first competitive game as Manchester United manager ended in a historic home defeat at the hands of Swansea City.
A day that began with the Dutch manager receiving a rapturous welcome from the Old Trafford fans as he walked out before kick-off ended with his side being beaten at home on the opening day of the league season for the first time since 1972.
Not even a trademark Van Gaal tactical switch could save him from opening his Premier League account with a 2-1 loss, as his side produced a disjointed performance which underlined the scale of the job ahead of him – and the improvement needed in several areas.
Injuries, together with a lack of summer arrivals, saw Van Gaal give debuts to two young academy products – Tyler Blackett on the left of a three-man defence and Jesse Lingard at wing-back.
