Louis van Gaal has admitted he was uncomfortable when taking over Manchester United last summer due to the makeup of the squad, pointing to how he has pruned 17 players since then.

Ahead of a second season in charge, Van Gaal feels the club is better placed, largely due to four new players – Bastian Schweinsteiger, Matteo Darmian, Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin – already having been recruited in the transfer window to make a total of 10 signings under Van Gaal.

When taking over last close season Van Gaal had to ask some of the squad to change where they operated. While these included Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia, who played at wingback in the team’s 3-5-2 shape, Van Gaal stated he was unable to voice his reservations due to a need to offer the best message.

“Yes, I could not say that last year because you have to be always positive as a manager about your selection but there’s a difference now,” the Dutchman said. “We already have four new players and training already on tour with the four new players. But the biggest difference is the balance in the team. Last year also in the US tour I had to line up the players in different positions than what they’re used to playing which is not good. So now for every position I have two players.

“Normally they play in their own position but nevertheless Paddy McNair has to play right full-back and that is not his position. He can do it but it’s not his position and that is football because Valencia was injured. We have sold also a lot of players and never talk about that. We have sold 17 in my period. Nobody [mentions that].”

This was because they were not of the requisite quality. “Yeah. I think that’s normal in the football world, you have [to] improve every year the selection and also keep them fresh and a new player can give a great stimulus,” said Van Gaal.

Van Gaal stated that Darmian, the Italy right-back bought for £12.7m from Torino, will start as back-up. “We have brought Darmian for the second position behind [Antonio] Valencia and now already because of that injury [Paddy] McNair has to play there,” he said.

Valencia and David De Gea are still recovering so are expected to miss Tuesday evening’s second tour game against San Jose Earthquakes. Both were also unavailable for the 1-0 win over Club America in Seattle on Friday. “They are minor injuries so they have visited the hospital this [Monday] morning and that has confirmed they cannot play against San Jose, I think, but we have to wait and see,” said Van Gaal, though he would not reveal their respective problems.

The manager confirmed that he is still open to signing a striker. “Yes. He’s in the process. But you have to wait and see. It’s not the striker that the media has written. The transfer period is open until 31 August or 2 September,” he said.

Of Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos potentially being recruited Van Gaal said: “I cannot talk about these rumours. I have said already it’s a process and maybe Mr Ramos is in the process you never know.”

Wayne Rooney will play in Duncan Ferguson’s testimonial on 2 August, six days before the start of the season. But Van Gaal brushed off any concerns his captain may be injured so close to the opening day. “Yeah he also fall off the stairs. That’s my answer,” he said.

Van Gaal has been pleased with how Rooney has led the club after he awarded the striker the role. “I think he is a great captain, better than I had expected and he is fully respected by the players and that is also very important because I can choose, but the players decide. That’s my philosophy, the players have to accept the captain – the first captain is Wayne Rooney, the second captain is Michael Carrick and last year the third captain was Chris Smalling,” he said.

Of Javier Hernandez, who spent last season on loan at Real Madrid and joins the tour on 25 July, Van Gaal said: “I think that I have long term expectations but you never know in this football world. Normally I have long term expectations of him.”