In contrast to David Moyes's pre-season in charge last year the United players are looking relaxed under Van Gaal, left, in Los Angeles

James Ducker is following Manchester United around the United States on their pre-season tour. Today he starts a daily online diary offering a behind the scenes look at life on the road with the club as Louis van Gaal’s reign as manager begins.

Alan Keegan, United’s affable master of ceremonies who, with one tongue firmly in his cheek, likes to call himself “The Voice of Old Trafford”, was the compere at a commercial event with Bulova, the club’s official watch partner, in Hollywood last night. Keegan rarely puts a word out of place but there was an unfortunate slip of that tongue when, while regaling guests with United’s long list of honours at the swanky affair at the Sky Bar on Sunset Boulevard, he erroneously