Van Gaal believes he will be given the time to develop new leaders at United [GETTY]
A figure to accept the armband worn by some of the great captains. A man of the mettle of Bryan Robson, Roy Keane and Nemanja Vidic.
Because as Louis van Gaal surveys his side, he accepts there is a lack of leaders.
He has a squad full of new signings and youngsters. He is trying to train players to accept responsibility and have authority. He has not inherited too many captaincy candidates. He has to produce them.
In the meantime, he has to find a suitable character to skipper United against Everton today.
His chosen captain, Wayne Rooney, starts a three-match ban for his sending-off against West Ham.
Vice-captain Darren Fletcher has not started a game since August.
A leadership void was created before Van Gaal arrived.
The three totems of the defence all quit Old Trafford together – captain Vidic, his deputy Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand, skipper in the 2008 Champions League final, had played more than 1,000 United games between them.
The most experienced player, Ryan Giggs, hung up his boots to become Van Gaal’s second in command.
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The United boss said: “As I was coming to the club, big leaders were leaving – Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand.
“Leadership is a process. You are not (transformed into) a leader from one day to another. Now a lot of players are in that process.”
Some have hardly started it – rookie 19-year-old Paddy McNair will play only his second senior game today.
Luke Shaw, another teenager, has represented United only once and recent recruit Marcos Rojo has played only three times.
The experienced Michael Carrick and Jonny Evans are still on the treatment table.
If Fletcher is not chosen to replace the injured Ander Herrera, Robin van Persie could lead United today.
But the manager had no hesitation in nominating another Dutchman when asked who was the best leader he had managed.
“Danny Blind,” he replied. Blind captained Ajax’s 1995 Champions League-winning side. His son Daley is now in United’s midfield, while Danny served as Van Gaal’s assistant manager with Holland.
“Maybe his son is better (as a player) but he is still not a leader,” said Van Gaal, “but that is a process.”
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It is a process the 63-year-old believes he will be given time to see through. “Of course, otherwise I wouldn’t be here,” he added. “I don’t have to come here – they asked me.”
The message is clear – United needed him more than he needed the job. But not many managers get both money and time.
Van Gaal spent £153million this summer. United are banking on an immediate return to the Champions League.
He is adamant he will guide them back to the top table of European football. “Yes, but not at once,” Van Gaal said. “There is a trajectory and a process of three years. I have signed a three-year contract. Believe me, I shall finish that.”
But before the three-year plan, he has to negotiate three games without Rooney after the England captain kicked out at Stewart Downing.
Van Gaal said: “He gets three matches and that is deserved. It is a big problem for him that he cannot play three matches.”
It places more attacking responsibility on Angel di Maria, who claims to relish the physicality of the Premier League.
United’s £59.7m record signing said: “It’s a more aggressive style of football here. Strength comes into play a lot more.
“Players here are a lot more powerful and show their strength a lot more. It’s another league but it’s all about settling in as quickly as possible.”LOUIS VAN GAAL