Manchester United's new manager Louis van Gaal could not help his side avoid a historic home defeat against Swansea City on the opening day of the Premier League season.
The day started with the Dutchman receiving a rapturous welcome from the Old Trafford fans as he walked out before kick-off, but it ended with United being beaten at home on the opening day of the league season for the first time since 1972.
Not even a trademark Van Gaal tactical switch could save him from opening his Premier League account with a 2-1 loss, as his side produced a disjointed performance underlining the scale of the job ahead of the Dutchman, The BBC reported.
Injuries, together with a lack of summer arrivals, saw Van Gaal give debuts to two young academy players, Tyler Blackett on the left of a three-man defence and Jesse Lingard at wing-back. Midfielder Ander Herrera was the only new signing to line up for a United side that finished seventh last season.
Wayne Rooney's overhead kick in his first game since being named United's new captain cancelled out Ki Sung-yueng's opener for Swansea, but some uncertain defending allowed the Welsh side's new midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson to score a 72nd-minute winner.
Sigurdsson 72nd minute goal saw the Welsh side ruin Van Gaal's big day by clinching their first away win over United in the league in 12 visits dating back to 1931.
Van Gaal, who stayed in his seat scribbling furiously throughout the match, still had 18 minutes to salvage something from his first game but some desperate late defending saw Swansea hang on, the report added.
