Schweinsteiger excited for reunion with van Gaal at United

Manchester United's manager Louis van Gaal (L) laughs as he and player Bastian Schweinsteiger speak to the media as the team introduces three new signings: Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Matteo Darmian, at a news conference in Bellevue, Washington July 15, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

BELLEVUE, Wash. - While Bastian Schweinsteiger may be new to English soccer, he's quite aware of what he's getting into with Louis van Gaal as his manager at Manchester United.

This isn't the first time their paths have crossed. Schweinsteiger played nearly two seasons at Bayern Munich with van Gaal as his manager before van Gaal was fired near the end of the 2011 season.

"We know each other. We had a great time there," Schweinsteiger said Wednesday. "It was very good for my development. We won titles."

Schweinsteiger spoke two days before he likely will make his Manchester United debut when it begins a preseason tour of the United States against Mexico's Club America on Friday night in Seattle.

Schweinsteiger, midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin and defender Matteo Darmian were all formally introduced by the club on Wednesday, the three main pieces of United's offseason makeover that also included the signing of Dutch winger Memphis Depay and the departure of striker Robin van Persie.

Van Gaal said it was important to have his new additions along with the club for its US tour.

"I'm very happy because in my opinion they are all very good players," van Gaal said. "We can prepare now in the tour all the things I want to implement with the new players."

This journey to England is a new chapter for the Schweinsteiger, the German captain. He spent his entire club career with Bayern Munich until signing a three-year deal with United and making the jump from the Bundesliga to the Premier League.

Schweinsteiger has done it all in his career, winning domestic and European club titles, and claiming the World Cup title last summer in Brazil.

So what's left?

"Of course it's a new stage in my life. I want to win titles. That's easy and what I'm used to," Schweinsteiger said. "That's the goal for next year's team."