Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal arrived at the club’s Carrington training ground yesterday to begin his new role.

The Dutchman dodged the cameras at the main gate but was shown in pictures on the club’s Twitter feed alongside his assistant manager Ryan Giggs and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

Van Gaal was due to meet those players not on a post-World Cup break as well as the rest of the club staff.

He has taken up the reins only four days after guiding Holland to third place at the World Cup in Brazil, eschewing a break himself.

And the 62-year-old, United’s first manager from outside the British Isles, will have no time to ease himself in.

This afternoon, he will be officially presented at a press conference at Old Trafford at 4pm before jetting off to the USA tomorrow for the club’s pre-season tour.

United will play matches against the Los Angeles Galaxy, Roma, Inter and Real Madrid, while Van Gaal’s Old Trafford debut will come in a friendly against Valencia on August 12.

Four days later United will open their Premier League campaign at home to Swansea.

A fast start will be a major priority for the new boss as United look to bounce back from last year’s seventh-place finish, which cost Van Gaal’s predecessor David Moyes his job.

There is plenty for Van Gaal to get his teeth into, not least whether he wants to go into the transfer market to add to the summer signings of left-back Luke Shaw and midfielder Ander Herrera.

Defence appears to be an area of priority given the departures of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, while Van Gaal must also decide whether a number of players have a future at Old Trafford.