Why His Planning for Manchester United's Future Will Be Louis van Gaal's Legacy

Louis van Gaal is enduring his toughest period so far as Manchester United manager. The draw with Newcastle United, the loss to Swansea City, the style of football and the confusing end to the transfer window have led to plenty of fan discontent.

There has reportedly been player discontent too. Simon Jones and Mike Keegan of the MailOnline claimed that players have "lost patience" with Van Gaal's methods. They reported that Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick "confronted" Van Gaal earlier this season over his training routines. 

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This has been widely commented on, although it seems important to note that Rooney and Carrick are the captain and vice-captain of the squad and that Van Gaal has spoken about his willingness to listen to his players' concerns.

The manager said at the end of August, replayed by Jonathan Wilson of the Guardian, "I am amazed you say I am single-minded. I have a philosophy. You have to come with good arguments to change my philosophy but when you have a better argument than me I change. I am an open guy."

Of Rooney, he said, "I trust him, so when he comes to me and has remarks I always pay attention to them. He also has the confidence to say things that are not always normal for players to say, so that is also good for the atmosphere in the dressing room."

Indeed, at an event on Wednesday evening, Van Gaal said Rooney was the best captain he has ever had, as reported by David Anderson of the Mirror. 

That would seem to indicate that whatever Rooney or Carrick said to him hasn't caused too much offence.

It was not, though, the most notable quote from that night. Indeed, there were a couple of comments that set Van Gaal's current difficulties in a different light. James Robson of Manchester Evening News wrote, "Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal claims he bought Anthony Martial for his successor—Ryan Giggs."

That declaration has numerous points of interest. The headline, of course, is that Van Gaal sees Giggs as his successor. There is a longer and more detailed analysis to be done of that assertion.

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However, the supplementary point is that the manager is clearly planning for a time when he is no longer at the club. This is a new paradigm for United fans. Most clubs are used to their manager changing and handling the complexities of succession planning.

United, though, spent so long in the Sir Alex Ferguson bubble that the idea of a manager having a set three-year stint is a novelty. David Moyes was appointed with a view to repeating the Ferguson model. That, of course, went very wrong.

Van Gaal's age meant he was never going to be a truly long-term appointment. However, his history as a manager suggested his impact will last beyond his tenure at the club. The changes he has made at United clearly have an eye on the long term.

With the exception of the reasonably priced acquisition of Bastian Schweinsteiger, all the players Van Gaal has brought in who remain at the club will be in a position to serve his successor.

Memphis Depay, Luke Shaw and Martial stand out in that category, but Morgan Schneiderlin, Matteo Darmian and Ander Herrera will all still be well within their best years at the end of next season.

Indeed, even Schweinsteiger's arrival could have an eye on the future. One of the most notable things about his early time at the club is how much he has talked to the younger players on the pitch and during warm-ups. Presumably the same is true at training. Having a mentor like that around must be good for their development.

There is much to criticise Van Gaal for. The football is stodgy, it is not clear where immediate success is coming from and the transfer outgoings do look to have cut the squad a little close to the bone.

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However, his successor will inherit a well-drilled, young and talented squad. Van Gaal has had a difficult few weeks, but there is plenty of evidence he will leave the club in much better shape than he found it.

Ultimately, if that is all he does, he will not have lived up to his billing as a man brought in to win trophies, but it will nonetheless mean he leaves some legacy from his time in charge of Manchester United.