'We have lift off' – Gaal-acticos bring buzz back to Old Trafford

The Dutchman immediately promised that he has just scratched the surface of his expensively-assembled squad after goals from Angel Di Maria, Ander Herrera, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata saw them blow Harry Redknapp's side away.

"The result is fantastic, but we can get better," said the Dutchman.

"We have made a very good new start," he added, explaining that he told his men to forget all about their disappointing start to the campaign and treat the league as beginning from now.

"I said (to the players) before the match, 'Let's make a new start'.' We have analysed what we have done. In ball possession, I think we have lost much of the ball (in the first three games). We were more direct."

The club's new boss - who took over the Red Devils after guiding the Netherlands to third place at the World Cup - reserved special praise for his new signings, and with good reason: both Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind looked assured on their debuts, while Angel Di Maria was once again man of the match.

"It's always difficult to come in and adapt to the Premier League, but the new players did very well," he said.

Van Gaal added that he is determined to win the title - though he got his feet back on the ground long enough to caution that it might not happen this season.

"I want to win the Premier League title," he added.

"If it is not this year then the second or third year. I want to give a championship to the fans.

"The fans have had to wait a long time for a good result and good play at home. I thank them for their confidence and support."

First things first: Calm down Manchester United fans, this was QPR, and they are terrible. Having said all that, United did look like a different side out there didn't they? And there is a simply reason why they looked so different – they were different! Who knew, but signing top quality players for huge money can make your team look better. There is still plenty of tinkering and bedding in for Van Gaal to do, and it is way too early to even suggest they are title contenders, but they are finally looking like a side that is ready to challenge for a top four place again, which has to be the bare minimum this season giving the money spent. With Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham all dropping points this weekend it was a great couple of days for United all around, and given how things how gone for them these last 12 months, perhaps it is understandable why their supporters are feeling so bullish this morning.

A comical tweet from Falcao became very popular on social media and only left QPR fans feeling more frustrated with their day.

Matt Dickenson (The Times): It takes a special performance for a player to look good value at £59.7 million, so congratulations to Ángel Di María, who managed yesterday to make the highest fee paid by a British club look like clever business rather than extravagance or desperation. With every deft touch, darting run and exquisite pass, you wondered how Real Madrid could have sold him, even for that vast sum and the chance to buy the exquisitely gifted James Rodríguez. Real claimed that Di María was demanding too much money for a good player, but no galáctico; an underestimation of his talents that even Manchester might have been guilty of. Before kick-off, anyway.

Amy Lawrence (The Guardian): We have lift off. Yet after all the signings, the promises of attacking riches, the signal for the Louis van Gaal era at Manchester United to begin its upward trajectory was felt most profoundly in the heart of the team. What a difference a midfield with guile and personality makes. The problem area that had been of most concern in recent seasons has a very different feel based on three summer imports. There was greater balance, improved control, and enough surges of creativity to ignite Old Trafford’s imagination.

Neil Ashton (The Daily Mail): In time, this may be remembered as the day Manchester United were reborn. The Gaal-acticos have found their mojo. It turned into a party, with 75,000 watching United move through the gears and give the fans what they want: goals, and lots of them...Only a couple of weeks ago, when United were beaten 4-0 at MK Dons in the Capital One Cup, the aura surrounding him seemed to be to wearing off. After this tub-thumping win, the doubts have evaporated.