Good afternoon all! So, Louis van Gaal has finally taken on his role as Manchester United manager after he was appointed as David Moyes's successor on May 19.

The Red Devils had to wait for the Dutchman to take his post due to the World Cup, but they were probably happy with what they saw as the 62-year-old guided the nation to third place in Brazil.

I'm sure you all saw pictures of Van Gaal in his sharp blue suit alongside executive chairman Ed Woodward and assistant boss Ryan Giggs yesterday. Well, today that coach has got down to work after overseeing his first training session with his new players.

Last season was one that United fans will want to forget in a hurry after they finished seventh in the Premier League. David Moyes got the chop less than 10 months after being named as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor. A number of supporters were concerned by the Scotsman's CV given that he had never won a major trophy, but that concern should be nowhere to be seen with Van Gaal...

The Dutchman has won league titles with Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and also has a Champions League to his name.

Right, here he is! Van Gaal, who has opted for a grey suit today, is currently posing for photos with Sir Bobby Charlton.

On what he expects to achieve: "I will do my utmost best - that's what I can give. I cannot give any predictions because you never know. It's the biggest club in the world - in two days I already know how big United is and how big the supporters are. I have to prepare a team and I have to adapt to this big club - it will not be easy. If you see my career, you can see what I have won."

"Every season you have to prove. Last season you are seventh, so then you are not the biggest club. When I was in China and Brazil, people were talking about United when I was coach of the Dutch team. There is a lot of expectation."

"My method is always the same. I want to look at the players now. Of course I know the players how they play but I don't know the players who I have. For the first few weeks, I want to see what they can do and then maybe I will buy new players. Shaw and Herrera were already on the list. I gave my approval because I like them."

On the United captaincy: "All the players are possible candidates - I have to get to know them. It can be four weeks or it can be two months. I think the captain of a team for me, is very important."

"I need all my knowledge to transfer my philosophy in this selection. You have to give me time to do that. Not only you (reporters), but also the CEO and the owners."

Van Gaal confirms that Nicky Butt is staying at the club, while he will "find a role" for Paul Scholes and Phil Neville.

"I have coached Barcelona who are number one in Spain, I have coach Ajax who are number one in Netherlands and Bayern Munich in Germany who are the biggest in Germany. Now I am at the biggest in England."

Asked what he would consider as a successful first season: "I don't know because first I have to see how the players perform my philosophy and how quick they can pick up this philosophy and then I can answer. I haven't worked with most of them so we have to wait and see. It's important that there is a click between the players and the manager. For me, the challenge is always first, not fourth, but when you have to analyse after one season it depends on the click between players and coach."

"The owners and the chief executive have a lot of confidence in me. They have come to me."

When asked if he is daunted by Ferguson's success: "Of course, I'm democratic. He called me to congratulate me. We know each other very well and I shall drink coffee and drink wine with him."

"When you see the kind of people who are loving the club, its a big family and they expect a lot of me, they are very excited to me, but can I fulfil that expectation? I think I can, but because of the greatness of this club it is always much more difficult. This club is also guided in a commercial way and we have to fulfil that also and that is not always possible to fulfil the commercial and football expectations. That is my big challenge after two days."

Asked how the experience of Wayne Rooney will be important: "I'm not always convinced of the experience of players. A boy like Seedorf - he was 16 years old. I let him make his debut, but as 16 years old, he was sometimes more experienced than a player of 30 years old. You named Rooney, but for example, Michael Carrick, he was injured two days ago - so in my opinion that in my mind is a big blow. Always its very important that we have experienced players, but not always in age, and not always in football, but as a human being. My philosophy is not always a football player, but in total."

"I'm democratic, of course I have a strong personality." When asked if he is an autocratic boss, he replied: "The media wants to show that part of the personality. When you repeat that everyone thinks it is like that. I have a strong philosophy. Sir Alex Ferguson has also a strong philosophy and he won a lot of titles."

Van Gaal also reveals that Michael Carrick's injury will keep him out for a "long time - too long".

So there we have it! I think it's fair to say that United have a manager who is fairly confident in himself. He's made no predictions about what the team can achieve in his first season, but has admitted that it's all about first, not fourth. The Dutchman has also claimed that he will give his players a chance to prove themselves before making any new signings. Thanks for joining us! Until next time, goodbye.