Good afternoon! Louis van Gaal will be speaking to the media shortly as he prepares for an early start to the Premier League weekend, as his side are in action against Aston Villa tomorrow evening.

As well as talking about this weekend's fixture, Van Gaal is likely to face questions about the club's progress in the transfer market. Barcelona's Pedro has continually been linked with the side, while a Spanish newspaper claims that it has seen paperwork confirming that Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi is in talks with the club.

As always, there will be the weekly fitness update. New signing Bastian Schweinsteiger was fit enough to come on for the final 30 minutes against Tottenham after picking up a knock in pre-season, and he's told the club's website: "It's fine. I had three or four days in America where I had this injury and it was not so good for my rhythm. Now I feel much better and also the game was very important to play 30 minutes. The training sessions are very important for me, too. I'm getting better and I hope I will be 100% fit in the next week."

Another hot topic will surely be the goalkeeping situation. Last week, Van Gaal admitted that he wouldn't play David de Gea because he believed that the keeper was distracted by transfer speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid. Argentina international Sergio Romero made his debut for the club in the Spaniard's place, and had a good game against Tottenham.

While Man Utd did secure three points from their opening match of the season, Van Gaal will surely be hoping for more from his side this week. The only goal of the match was an own goal from Kyle Walker, with further chances scarce for the home side.

Another of Manchester United's summer signings is Morgan Schneiderlin, who started the match against Spurs last Saturday. It seem the Frenchman has been a popular addition with the club's fans:

From 🇳🇿🇨🇳🇩🇪🇫🇷🇯🇵 🇮🇹🇰🇷🇺🇸& many other places all over the🌍 Thank u for your mails I feel 🍀 @ManUtd #BeTheDifference pic.twitter.com/2Sq0hxzDgT

— Morgan Schneiderlin (@SchneiderlinMo4) August 12, 2015

The manager should be speaking to the media in the next couple of minutes, but he's already had a word with the club's TV channel, confirming that Phil Jones is still out with thrombosis, while Marcos Rojo is short of full fitness.

Don't forget, we'll have live coverage of every Premier League match taking place this weekend, including this one from an hour prior to kickoff. We'll also bring you team news, manager reaction, player ratings and loads more, so make sure you join us again tomorrow.

If you want to read more about the players being linked with moves to and away from Manchester United in the remaining couple of weeks of the transfer window, you can find all the latest stories here.

Right then, the manager is ready to get his press conference underway, so let's see what he has to say this week...

Van Gaal starts with an update on the goalkeepers after being asked if David de Gea will play, informing reporters: "No, it is the same situation. He remains out of the squad."

He adds: "De Gea still has the same problem, there's no difference. The transfer period is still open and he still has the same problem."

Former Barcelona player Hristo Stoichkov has criticised Van Gaal this week, but the Man Utd manager is quick to hit back: "I always want to consider who is saying such things and then I know that already because of why? It is not bothering me because as a manager I have to decide a lot of things, and Stoichkov is one of the players I send away, and that is why he is doing that."

On the title race, Van Gaal insists: "We only have a better start than last season, and that we have wished before the same and fortunately we won, but the season takes a long time. After 10 matches [last season] we had 13 points, it was still possible to be the champion and until the game against Chelsea is was possible. It is also possible for Arsenal and Chelsea to recover the points. We shall also lose this season."

Van Gaal admits that the team's away form could be crucial this season: "I think that is the key for success this season. At home, we were one of the best, third in the league I think, but I want to create a fortress from Old Trafford and we did that. But away from home we can improve, but last season it was not good."

Adnan Januzaj is one of the players who has been linked with a move away from the club, with Sunderland thought to be interested, but the manager insists: "I have 28 players and I have to select every week, and maybe every three days. Last week I chose other players. He is doing his utmost best, all the players are doing that. I don't have any complaints. He's still not for sale."

Van Gaal has a bit of a striker shortage following the departures of Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao, but the manager says: "The striker is Rooney and Chicharito is the second striker, he knows that. But that doesn't rule out the possibility of further additions up front. We are always looking to improve the squad, but we will only buy to improve."

Van Gaal reiterates that getting through the opening weeks of the season without dropping too many points is crucial: "You have to survive the start always, you have new players, a new team, a new team process, the team dynamics are different, so every club and every team has to sustain this period because nobody is 100% fit and they have to play. I think that we have to pay attention to it and develop, but it cannot cost as many points as last year, and that is our main objective."

That's all from Van Gaal this week. So, join us again tomorrow night to see if Manchester United can make it six points out of six from their first two matches of the season. Until then, thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.