Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal feels his plans are beginning to bear fruit.

Van Gaal admitted he can see his Bayern Munich blueprint starting to take effect at Old Trafford.

"Yes, but that I have said already, in preparation time [pre-season] that I need time," he said. "In the United States, we had direct success. I think we played very well there - surprisingly, very good.

"I coach in a way that players have to think for themselves and think why they are doing things on the pitch. When you work at that rate, you have to be conscious of what you are doing. That takes time."