Louis van Gaal Demands Manchester United Players Learn English in 1 Year

Louis van Gaal may have overhauled Manchester United's squad this summer, but he's determined to get all the new faces singing from the same hymn sheet. The language they'll be singing in will be English.

Van Gaal has pledged to have all non-English speaking players fluent in the language within a year. That's according to Manchester Evening News reporter Stuart Mathieson:

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You know already that all the Spanish players have lessons in English so we have started already more than two weeks.

We are only two weeks in this country because we were on the USA and after that we have also international week. But I can speak Spanish so it is better to communicate sometimes on the pitch in Spanish.

But they shall learn English within one year, I promise.

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Team-wide language is a relevant issue in Van Gaal's squad. Although plenty of foreign imports have been brought to Old Trafford, the Red Devils still boast ample reserves of domestic and English-speaking talent.

Striker Wayne Rooney, along with defenders Luke Shaw, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are all England internationals. There's also midfielders Michael Carrick and Ashley Young to consider.

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As for non-English players who still speak the language, Scotland's Darren Fletcher is still on the books, as is Northern Ireland international Jonny Evans. Even Van Gaal's fellow Dutchman Robin van Persie has spent most of his professional career in England's top flight.

That group is now balanced alongside a deep contingent of players most comfortable conversing in Spanish. Mathieson made special note of this group:

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The mother tongue in the Reds dressing room before the QPR match was Spanish with the likes of David de Gea, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Angel Di Maria, Marcos Rojo and Radamel Falcao chatting away.

In fairness many of them can speak English and Falcao was praised by van Gaal at his press conference unveiling that he conducted it all in English, with only occasional help from an interpreter.

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Van Gaal's desire to have his players communicate in English is perhaps an attempt to foster some squad unity. That's a pertinent concern when considering the number of new arrivals, as well as departures at Old Trafford since the Dutchman took over.

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As well as signing Shaw, Van Gaal also added Ander Herrera, Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao, Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo. To make room, Javier Hernandez, Nani and Englishmen Danny Welbeck, Wilfried Zaha and Tom Cleverly were dispensed with, albeit temporarily in some of those cases.

Currently players and new signings recently took the chance afforded by not playing in this season's UEFA Champions League, to foster some unity. Captain Rooney led a night out for several members of the reshuffled squad.

It was a success, according to Manchester Evening News reporters Alice McKeegan and Dianne Bourne:

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United stars hit the town - on a team-bonding night out.

Players on the evening out included Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen, along with new arrivals Falcao, Angel Di Maria, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Daley Blind and Ander Herrera.

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These kinds of player-led excursions can play a useful role in bringing a squad together. The bonds established can easily transfer to the pitch.

A manager as experienced as Van Gaal will also know that whenever players lean on separate groups for camaraderie, cliques are always possible. That can become a major problem if a team starts to struggle, or certain players simply resent being left out.

One of the defining features of United's squads under Sir Alex Ferguson was unity. It was the backbone of so many title-winning campaigns.

As he embarks on creating his own era of success at United, Van Gaal wants that same brotherhood to be the foundation of his new-look team.