Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has insisted he has no regrets about taking on a rebuilding job at Old Trafford after hailing his new club as 'the number one club in the country'.

In comments appearing in the Daily Mirror, Van Gaal has offered some comments that may not be welcomed by Tottenham, who attempted to appoint the Dutchman as their head coach before he opted to take over at United.

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Yet it is the evident eagerness and desire of the 63-year-old Dutchman to get his teeth into reviving United that will encourage supporters who have been excited by a summer of transfer spending that concluded with the capture of Colombian striker Radamel Falcao on transfer deadline day.

"No, I don't regret taking this job," said Van Gaal. "Yes, it is a massive job I have taken on at Manchester United. I realise that.

"And the situation is not worse than I thought. I knew what I would find on my plate. I could have opted for an easier job. If I had gone to Tottenham, the job would not have been as enormous as here at United.

"I could have easily gone to Spurs. But I chose the biggest challenge of all the jobs in football. And I really wanted to join the number one club in the country, not Tottenham.

"Financially, Tottenham was kind of as attractive as Man United. But, in my eyes, Man United is still the number one club in England. Tottenham really is not."

Louis van Gaal turned down Tottenham before accepting the Manchester United job. Ian MacNicol/AFP/Getty Images

Van Gaal went on to suggest he will not continue at United for as long as he would want if success does not come quickly, as he suggested the love he is feeling from the club's supporters despite his side's poor start to the season would have to continue for him to remain at the Old Trafford helm.

"Look, don't be fooled," he added. "Every manager loves recognition and appreciation. So do I -- if I don't get any applause, I would not be able to keep going for so long as a manager. Nobody can.

"But you also need a bit of luck. I have been lucky in the beginning of my career. Ajax wanted to sack me halfway in my first season at the club, but they kept believing in me, and look what happened.

"I have the energy and the players and the club give me energy. I think it is fantastic that I have so much work on my plate. It means I have a lot to do and I am capable of doing it."