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Louis van Gaal before the Premier League match between Manchester United and Swansea City in Manchester, England, August 2014.

Where are they now? Manchester United’s first XI under Louis van Gaal

Louis van Gaal is arguably the most divisive post-Ferguson manager of Manchester United among the club’s supporters.

A large section of the Old Trafford faithful remember Van Gaal’s two years in charge with little fondness, with a dull playing style and a string of underwhelming performances.

But some supporters recognise Van Gaal’s commitment to youth, having bought through the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard, and point to the 2016 FA Cup win as a sign that good times were just around the corner.

The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. But what cannot be argued is that the Van Gaal era began with an inauspicious defeat.

We’ve taken a look at the United side that lost 2-1 to Swansea in August 2014 and how they’ve fared since.

GK: David de Gea

One of only two current United players who’ve won the league at Old Trafford, De Gea has served the club with distinction since 2011.

Initially thought to be too weedy for the Premier League, which perhaps explains why he was caught shoplifting Krispy Kremes from Tesco, the goalkeeper blossomed into one of the world’s best custodians and has bailed United out on more than one occasion.

After coming under criticism the past few seasons, the Spaniard has returned to some of his best form last year to effectively seen off the challenge of Dean Henderson. Not good enough for Luis Enrique, though.

READ: A ridiculous XI of players brutally snubbed for the 2022 World Cup

CB: Phil Jones

Once tipped to be United’s greatest-ever player by Sir Alex Ferguson – who, let’s remind ourselves, was only human – Jones failed to live up to those lofty expectations and has endured an injury-hit career.

The centre-back rejected the chance of a testimonial in 2021, telling Goal: “There’d be only my mum and dad who would turn up.”

But Jones made a surprise appearance against Wolves in January 2022 and was arguably United’s best player that night. Further opportunities have not been forthcoming and he’s since been ousted from Erik ten Hag’s first-team squad. His contract finally expires next summer and we wouldn’t be shocked if he chooses that moment to call it quits.

All a bit sad, really.

CB: Chris Smalling

Smalling made 323 games for United, winning two Premier League winners’ medals, the FA Cup, EFL Cup and the Europa League, but never convinced the Stretford End with his defensive capabilities.

But the defender was a revelation during a season-long-loan at Roma. Growing his hair out like a stereotypical gap-year student, Smalling won a legion of fans in Serie A with his full-blooded attitude and supreme heading ability.

His move to Italy was made permanent in 2020 and he’s since gone on to reunite with Jose Mourinho, shining under the Portuguese coach as Roma lifted the first UEFA Conference League trophy last season. We honestly think he can feel a bit hard-done-by not to feature in England’s World Cup squad.

CB: Tyler Blackett

Blackett was a surprise inclusion in Van Gaal’s first line-up as United suffered from a defensive injury crisis.

The youngster made 12 appearances in 2014-15 and was tipped to become a “great defender” after signing a new deal in 2015.

But a loan spell at Celtic proved unproductive the following season and Blackett was sold to Reading, where he ended up appearing over 100 times before leaving in 2020.

After a season with Nottingham Forest, Blackett moved to America and joined MLS side FC Cincinnati on a free transfer.

RWB: Ashley Young 

The defeat against Swansea is definitely best remembered for a bird defecating in Young’s mouth – something the United man denies to this day.

Young reinvented himself as a full-back and had a spell as United’s captain, though his performances began to decline under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The former-England international moved to Internazionale in January 2020, winning the Serie A title, before returning to his old club Aston Villa last summer.

Back in 2014, the thought of him playing under Steven Gerrard would’ve been a weird one, yet there we were. 37-year-old Young has outlasted his old England team-mate at Villa Park.

CM: Darren Fletcher

One of United’s most underrated players during the 2000s, Fletcher is now the club’s Technical Director – and was seen communicating with interim boss Ralf Rangnick on matchday via an earpiece last season.

It’s clear that Fletcher is highly-thought of at United and he has a crucial role to play in restructuring the club’s infrastructure and getting back them back to where they belong. Things look to have taken a promising step forward with Erik ten Hag in the dugout.

CM: Ander Herrera (Marouane Fellaini, ’67)

Having been lined up by David Moyes the previous year, Herrera eventually arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2014 but didn’t last the full 90 minutes of his debut appearance.

But the tough-tackling midfielder recovered to appear made 189 appearances across five seasons at the club, winning the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League.

Having seen out his contract, he signed a five-year deal with PSG in the summer of 2019, winning a domestic treble and starting in the Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich in his first season. But his role diminished over time and he left the French capital in the summer when his contract expired and then made a romantic return to Athletic Club.

Fellaini was one of the most divisive Manchester United players of recent years, but history will probably be kind to a player that served a purpose at Old Trafford.

The afro-haired midfielder left for China in January 2019 and remains a Shandong Luneng player to this day.

CM: Juan Mata

He’s probably stayed at United for a few years too long but Mata will always be remembered fondly at Old Trafford. After being released in the summer, he signed for Turkish Super Lig giants Galatasaray.

READ: An ode to Juan Mata at Man Utd, a magical square peg in a round hole

LWB: Jesse Lingard (Adnan Januzaj, ’24)

Van Gaal entrusted Lingard with a start in his first competitive match in charge of United.

But the youngster had to be replaced due to injury after just 24 minutes and, by the time he returned to fitness, he was sent out on loan to Derby.

His breakthrough came during the following season and the cult of ‘JLingz’ steadily grew over the remainder of the decade.

Despite a sensational loan spell at West Ham, Lingard returned to play a peripheral role at Old Trafford last season, waving a quiet goodbye after his United career fizzled out somewhat. In the summer he became one of Nottingham Forest’s one million new recruits.

His replacement was widely considered Manchester United’s future back in August 2014.

“I’ve played at United and you’re very conscious of adding too much pressure to young players. However, I genuinely think this guy could be one of the best in the world. I think he’s that talented,” Gary Neville said earlier that year.

Januzaj didn’t turn out to be one of the best players in the world but was decent enough for Real Sociedad, for whom he made over 100 appearances. The Belgian remains in Spain, having joined Sevilla in the summer.

ST: Javier Hernandez (Nani, ’45)

While he may never have been the main man at United, Hernandez still managed to score 59 goals in all competitions across four seasons as a regular first-team player.

Joining United after some stellar performances for Mexico at the 2010 World Cup, Chicarito shone in his first season at Old Trafford but his star was on the wane by 2014.

After being substituted here, the striker was loaned out to Real Madrid for the 2014-15 season before joining Bayer Leverkusen permanently the following year.

A bizarre spell at West Ham followed and the 34-year-old has spent the last three years at LA Galaxy – where he scored 18 goals in the 2022 season.

Nani also spent the season away from Old Trafford, at Sporting Lisbon, before joining Fenerbache the following summer.

Earlier this year he signed for Australian A-League side Melbourne Victory. He was a damn sight better for United than you probably remember…

Luis Nani celebrates after scoring for Manchester United.

READ: Nani, Man Utd, and the unfair portrayal of a ‘frustrating’ talent

ST: Wayne Rooney

United’s record goalscorer is currently in charge of MLS outfit DC United, having done his coaching reputation no harm at all by making a decent fist of it at financially-hamstrung Derby in the Championship this season.

You’d be amazed if he ever returns to the dugout at United, but stranger things have happened.


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