Man United set for a 'long and painful transition' under Louis van Gaal - Graeme Souness

Posted Monday, September 08, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

LIVERPOOL legend Graeme Souness reckons it will take a 'long and painful transition' for Louis van Gaal to transform Manchester United back into champions, particularly if he persists with the 3-5-2 system.

LONG AND PAINFUL: Souness reckons United will struggle

Van Gaal is yet to win a match as United boss and has taken juat two points from three league games.

And his system of playing three at the back has hampered the settling in period for his inexperienced side which is having to overcome the departures of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.

"If Van Gaal is determined to persist with a back three, this is going to be a long and painful transition for United," Souness wrote in his column for the Sunday Times.

"The team may take until November to settle down. You ain't going to win the league if you take that long and you might not make the Champions League places either.

"United have already dropped seven points from a possible nine. If you continue with three at the back and the results are not improving players will not be slow in turning round and pointing their fingers at the coach, saying, 'It's not that I am not playing well, it's the system'."

Souness also voiced doubts over United's new signings fitting into the system.

He added: "Angel Di Maria is too much of a winger to play as a wing-back, so he could play one position inside the widest man in a 3-5-2.

"If you play with a back four you can play him wide, as Argentina did when he made three goals and scored the other in their 4-2 win over Germany in midweek. I don't read much into international friendlies but that performance showed his talent."