Predicting Louis van Gaal's Opening Manchester United Premier League XI

Louis van Gaal's Manchester United kick off the Premier League season against Tottenham Hotspur at 12.45 p.m. BST on Saturday, August 8, 2015. Now the rigmarole of the pre-season tour of the U.S. is over, which XI will the manager assemble?

The XI he picks will be tasked with trying to repeat what was probably United's best 90-minute performance last season, as they demolished Spurs 3-0. 

Van Gaal has given some clues as to his selection plans, telling a press conference after the International Champions Cup loss to Paris Saint-Germain that Luke Shaw, Matteo Darmian and Daley Blind all had starting berths lined up, reported on Twitter by Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail. It also seems likely that players who were consistently picked in the starting lineup on the tour will see first-team action.

There are plenty of questions left to answer, though. Will David De Gea still be at the club to keep goal? Will United have brought in some new talent to complement the existing squad by then? How will Van Gaal line up his midfield? Will he gamble on any of the youngsters who impressed during pre-season?

Here is a predicted XI. Of course, a week is a long time in football...

David De Gea

Jon Super/Associated Press

One of the key things that could change in that week is the United goalie.

When De Gea left the Old Trafford pitch with a knock in the final home game of last season, it seemed unlikely he would still be at the club come the end of the summer. After months of rumours, though, he remains a United player. Van Gaal recently described the saga as "unfavourable" to both club and 'keeper, relayed BBC Sport.  

In spite of this, and in spite of his poor performance in the first half against PSG, if De Gea is fit and still a United player by August 8, he will line up in goal. If he is not, then an Old Trafford debut for Sergio Romero may be in the offing.

Matteo Darmian

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Van Gaal gave United fans a fright when he suggested Darmian had been brought in as second choice behind Antonio Valencia at right-back, per the Guardian.

However, whether that statement was taken too literally or whether Van Gaal has changed his mind, Darmian will be starting against Spurs if he is fit. 

And no wonder. The Italian has been one of United's stars in pre-season. His assured defending and skilful attacking play has been a highlight of the Red Devils' U.S. tour. Darmian is the deserved first-choice right-back for now.

Luke Shaw

Another player who was consistently impressive in pre-season was Luke Shaw. The extra fitness work he put in during the summer, reported by the club's official website, has apparently paid off. He looks bursting with confidence, like Darmian, in both an attacking and defensive capacity. 

Shaw and Darmian were probably United's two most consistent players on the tour, and if they can both stay fit, they could be United's first-choice full-backs for a long time to come. The former Southampton man looks like he is capable of living up to his sizable price tag after all.

Daley Blind

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Chalk this one up to Van Gaal being Van Gaal. 

Had the manager not already confirmed that Blind was earmarked to line up against Spurs, it would have seemed sensible to predict that a traditional centre-back would have started in his stead. 

However, Van Gaal's decision to select Blind at centre-half in every starting XI on the tour was apparently because he intends to persist with him there. He told MUTV (h/t People's Person on Twitter) that he valued Blind's contributions to build-up play and his capacity to provide an extra man in midfield. 

Many—if not most—United fans would prefer a centre-back with more experience in the role to play in Blind's place. But the manager wants what he wants.

Chris Smalling

Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

Phil Jones was at least partially at fault for both of PSG's goals on Wednesday at Soldier Field. Given that, and taking into account Chris Smalling's fine finish to last season, surely it is Smalling who should start alongside Blind against Spurs.

This is reportedly the one position in the back four that is up for grabs. Jones may still get the nod, not least of all because Van Gaal clearly sees something in the partnership of Jones and Blind, given he played them together four times on tour. However, what Van Gaal sees in it is unclear from the outside looking in.

Smalling is less error prone than his England colleague, and Jones has done nothing to endear himself to Van Gaal with his PSG performance.

Michael Carrick

Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

Michael Carrick probably should not start against Spurs, but he probably will.

Carrick has a reputation for starting the season slowly. Indeed, Sir Alex Ferguson said of him, "He always denies it but has slow starts," per Sky Sports in 2012. 

Assuming Van Gaal sticks with the 4-2-3-1/4-4-1-1 hybrid he played on the tour, then there is space for only two of Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Michael Carrick and Ander Herrera. Carrick's importance to United last season, his reputation at the club and his status as Van Gaal's vice captain last time around probably means he has to start. 

Unfortunately, unless he starts alongside Herrera—something that did not happen at all on tour—then United's midfield will have a tendency to sit a little deep.

Expect the default midfield to shift as the season develops. For now, though, Carrick is a part of it.

Bastian Schweinsteiger

Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

The sense of excitement about seeing Schweinsteiger line up in United red at Old Trafford is palpable. Given he was part of the starting XI against PSG, the German superstar seems nailed on for his first United start. 

A player of his quality is surely too good to bench. Alongside Carrick, the balance of the midfield looks a little off—and my preference would be to play Schweinsteiger alongside Herrera.

Whichever way Van Gaal lines up the midfield, though, Schweinsteiger should be a part of it. Seeing him make a couple of early challenges will certainly get the crowd going at Old Trafford.

Juan Mata

Terrell Lloyd/Associated Press

Juan Mata was offside when he received the ball, killed it dead with a sumptuous first touch and slotted it past the 'keeper against Paris. However, in that moment, he showed just why he should be in United's starting XI. Mata is a player whose technical ability and eye for a goal often combine to excellent effect. 

He has generally been pretty effective in the false-right-winger role to which Van Gaal has assigned him. He is not a player who dominates every game he plays, but there have been plenty of games in which he has been vital.

He has looked in good touch on United's tour, and some of his interplay with Memphis Depay has been a joy to watch. Mata is a player who is, as the saying goes, worth the price of admission when he is on song, and thus he should start.

Andreas Pereira

Eric Risberg/Associated Press

Of all the XI listed here, this is the prediction that is going furthest out on a limb. Ashley Young may well be preferred to the Belgium-born Brazil international, but Andreas Pereira's impressive pre-season should earn him a chance.

Full of trickery and invention, Pereira's end product was also pretty consistent, as he played on the flank and at No. 10 during pre-season. His crossing was a particular highlight, and with Shaw providing plenty of defensive solidity on the left flank, there is room in the side for Pereira's invention over Young's more solid presence.

It would also be reassuring for fans worried about the effect of United's free-spending status on its commitment to youth to see a youngster given a chance.

Memphis Depay

AJ Mast/Associated Press

A relative youngster who looks almost certain to be given a chance is Memphis Depay. 

Though the Dutchman has played most of his career coming in off the left flank, Van Gaal has chosen to play his new signing at No. 10 so far. Perhaps this is so that he is not encumbered by defensive responsibilities. Also possible is that Van Gaal sees it as a way to open up space for Wayne Rooney. 

The player, who has asked commentators to refer to him as Memphis, has shown some sparkling moments during pre-season. His range of skills is remarkable, and he looks to be an extremely exciting addition to Untied's squad. He will surely start against Spurs.

Wayne Rooney

Kamil Krzaczynski/Associated Press

Of course, a player who is absolutely certain to start, assuming he does not pick up an injury, is United's captain. 

Wayne Rooney has not had a brilliant pre-season but goes into the campaign ahead as the undisputed spearhead of the Red Devils' attack.

He has seen off the challenges of striker after striker during his time at United and now finds himself tasked with shouldering the goalscoring burden for the season ahead. The last time he was in sole charge of the No. 9 spot was back in 2011/12, and it will be fascinating to see whether he can still lead the line.

For now, he will be the metaphorical first name on the teamsheet.