Van Gaals a winner - Martinez



The Dutchman took over in the summer after former Toffees boss David Moyes lasted less than a season after paying the price for indifferent performances and results.

Van Gaal's track record - he has won league titles in Holland, Spain, Germany and also lifted the Champions League - means he arrived facing high expectations, but Martinez fully believes he will deliver.

"When a new manager arrives with that sort of experience of winning the league in every country he has been managing in, it brings a real understanding of how to win games," said the Spaniard, whose side did the double over United last season, registering their first league win at Old Trafford since 1992.

"From my point of view, to fit the bill is to be able to win titles and that is what is expected when you go into a football club like Manchester United.

"They have been so successful over the years that, with the budget and expectations they have, it is clearly what is expected from the manager.

"You are talking about a person who has been through everything, been successful in every single project he has been involved and on top of that you saw what a big impact he had at the World Cup (Holland finished third in Brazil under Van Gaal).

"If you are going to see it from the outside, it looks like a manager who will bring success into the football club."

Martinez believes Van Gaal's experience has helped United through a tricky start to his reign and, whereas Moyes was tactically very rigid, the Dutchman has a more open approach.

"The differences are many from where they were last season, due to the amount of new players coming in and the manager arriving and bringing a completely different way of playing," he added.

"They have been very flexible tactically

They have started with different formations and now, after the QPR game at home (4-0 win last month), they have found a way of playing and partnerships on the pitch that look really strong.

"At the moment they score goals with ease - which is the hardest thing to achieve - and so now it is making sure they get that bit of consistency with players coming back from injury."

On the subject of players returning from injury, Martinez expects England midfielder Ross Barkley to rejoin first-team training next week, although he will still not be ready to make his comeback from a knee operation when the league resumes after the international break later this month.

"Ross Barkley is developing well and I hope he will join the group next week to start working with the full team as early as next Wednesday," the Toffees boss said.

"I think it's too early (to come back) after the international break.

"He will be back to work with the team after the internationals

We don't know how long it will take for Ross to be match fit."

On the back of their 1-1 Europa League draw against Krasnodar, Everton have offered to pay for tickets for the Lille away match for any fans who made the trip to Russia.

"All the away fans that travelled to Krasnodar will get free tickets for Lille," Martinez said.

"It's not generous - it is to give them a big thank you.

"It was a long way to wait to get back in Europe

It was a tough trip and we found out a few stories from the fans and the journeys were incredible: well worthy of some Hollywood scripts.

"One fan took nine hours, two different flights, went around the Black Sea on a train before getting to the wrong hotel."

Source : PA

Source: PA