VAN GAAL: WHY I SIGNED SCHWEINSTEIGER

Louis van Gaal is delighted with Bastian Schweinsteiger's impact at Manchester United and cites the German's leadership skills as one of the reasons why he was signed this summer.

Schweinsteiger joined the Reds from Bayern Munich and has seamlessly settled into his new life in England, almost instantaneously becoming an extremely popular figure in the dressing room while also enjoying the admiration of fans who have begun chanting 'Deutscher fussballmeister', which translates to 'German football master' and was formerly sang by supporters at the Allianz Arena.

During a press conference to preview Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League Group B match with Wolfsburg, van Gaal spoke glowingly about his cultured midfielder and revealed some of the reasons why he’s at home with United. “He was my former captain with Philipp Lahm at Bayern Munich so I think that he is also very worthwhile off the pitch,” the manager told reporters at Old Trafford.

“You can see it already now because he is already accepted as a leading player, and that is why also we have bought him from Bayern Munich. I believe in the mixture between youth and older players. He is an example for the younger players to follow so I am very happy with him.”

Expanding on his point, van Gaal continued to explain how United have improved this season: “We have made progression in the maturity of the team, the balance of the team and that's also why Bastian Schweinsteiger is here. Morgan Schneiderlin also gives more composure to the team. 

"That is what we have improved when we compare with the team of last year. We still have to improve to win the Premier League and the Champions League, but we are improving every week.”

Schweinsteiger was also sat at the top table during Tuesday’s press conference and the World-Cup winner answered many questions from the German media, who were understandably keen to hear from their international captain. Our no.31 duly obliged, and explained why’s happy at United.

"The whole club, the people are very friendly and helpful," Bastian explained. "And of course my teammates have made it easy for me. I know the manager and staff. OK, nobody really speaks German except the staff, but it was not a problem for me. I’m at an age where I can learn and handle it. 

"It was very easy and I feel very comfortable here, especially when we have matches at Old Trafford. it's a big stadium and a big honour to play here for United, especially in the Champions League."

As the current Germany captain and a former player of Bayern Munich, Schweinsteiger knows all about Wolfsburg and has fond memories of facing them in the Bundesliga. The 31-year-old also admitted he has traded text messages with at least one of his international team-mates ahead of kick-off. 

“I scored my first goal for Bayern away at Wolfsburg, so I have good memories,” said Basti. “But I always remember it wasn't easy to play against them. They were always tough matches. Wolfsburg have a good team, especially over the last three or four years. They have improved a lot.

“I'm looking forward to the match against them. It’s a big challenge for us. Of course, I have some friends in their team, especially Dante, who I know really well, and the other German national players. So I’m looking forward to seeing them tomorrow.

“I met Andre Schurrle with the national team. I sent some messages to Dante because we don’t just speak about football – we speak about our private lives as well. He's really a friend of mine. We spoke, of course, when we found out we were playing against each other, but nothing special.”

Later in the press conference, when asked if United have enough quality to win the Champions League, a feature he has already achieved in his career, Schweinsteiger spoke optimistically but insisted the Reds have a long way to go until they can think about lifting European football's top trophy at the San Siro.

"Yes, I think so, but first of all we have to do our work," he explained. "We lost the first match. It was a pity against PSV Eindhoven – if we'd scored a second or third goal in the first half, it would have been different score at the end of the day. But we lost the match so, as the manager said, we have to win our games at home first of all, and take it step by step in the group."