Louis van Gaal era underway at Manchester United as diggers move into Carrington training complex after Dutchman complains it gets too windy

Diggers pictured driving in to Manchester United's Carrington training complex

Louis van Gaal said the training complex is like 'an open field' and that too much wind reaches the pitches

Van Gaal said the facilities are 'fantastic' but insisted 'something must be done' about the effect of the wind



In 2013 Sir Alex Ferguson described the upgraded Carrington facilities as his 'best signing'



The Louis van Gaal era at Manchester United looks to have started already as the diggers moved into the club’s Carrington training complex.

The Dutchman spoke to the media on Thursday for the first time since being appointed as Manchester United boss and described facilities as 'fantastic' but said something must be done about how windy it gets.

'The (training ground) needs some more intimacy and I have asked (for that) already,' Van Gaal explained.

VIDEO Scroll down to watch Louis van Gaal and Ryan Giggs star in a cartoon parody



Ready for action: Lorries arrive at Carrington training ground with diggers on the back

Time for change: Diggers arrived at United's training ground after Van Gaal said he wanted to make changes

Heavy duty: Van Gaal said the training ground was too windy New era: Over £60m has already been spent on Carrington since it was built in 1999

Man in charge: Van Gaal says United should change the training complex as it gets too windy No 1 man: Louis van Gaal is proudly unveiled as Manchester United manager with Sir Bobby Charlton

‘Because now it is an open field and there is always wind and wind is not always the friend of the players and the football. So we have to do something about that. But the facilities are fantastic.’

And it seems the work is could already be underway as diggers arrived on Friday morning and could get to work on making the changes Van Gaal required.

Sir Alex Ferguson ensured major changes were made to United's training facilities towards the end of the nineties, fearing that they would be inadequate for a team looking to dominate the Premier League in the 21st century.

Construction work began to upgrade Carrington in 1999, with £22million spent before the facilities were opened in the summer of 2000, replacing United’s old training ground, The Cliff. Another £8m was spent on the Academy Facility, which opened two years later.



Birdseye view: An aerial shot of Manchester United's Carrington Training Complex

At odds: Sir Alex Ferguson described the enhanced Carrington facilities as his 'best signing' Making his point: Van Gaal speaks out during his first-ever press conference as United boss

And in 2013, a medical and sports science facility worth £25m was unveiled, taking the club's spending on the overall complex to more than £60m.

Ferguson described the enhanced training headquarters as his 'best signing' and well worth the investment from the club.

'It's given us a training facility where all the players are saying, 'Wow, this is some training ground now'. It's one of the best. And I think if any player were to come here with any doubts about where they should be, they'll soon find out that this is a fantastic set-up.'

Straight ahead: Van Gaal said he is proud to be in charge of a club like Manchester United

Van Gaal took time to praise the sense of community he has found since arriving in Manchester on Wednesday.

‘It’s unbelievable how many people are working for the same cause,' he said.

‘It’s also a family and everybody is proud to work for Manchester United.

‘That feeling I have is fantastic.'

The former Bayern Munich boss said he was pleased United's season tickets had already sold out ahead of the start of the 2014-15 Premier League season.

‘I have heard that the season-tickets are already sold out and I am very proud.