The goalkeeper will be sitting just a few metres away from his new boss on Friday evening when Holland face Spain in the World Cup Group B opener in Salvador de Bahia, and will also be watching team-mate Robin van Persie lead the Dutch attack.
"He has won everything as a coach," De Gea said of Holland coach Van Gaal in an interview with Marca.
"He's a very good coach and I think he's going to bring a lot to Manchester United, important and innovative ideas and I think he's going to be very good for us."
Van Gaal's predecessor David Moyes was criticised for negative tactics in his doomed nine-month spell in charge at Old Trafford, but De Gea believes the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach will get United playing more exciting football again.
"He's going to help us a lot because he's going to bring a different style of play," he added.
Spain's third choice goalkeeper behind Iker Casillas and Pepe Reina, De Gea will be watching the game from the dugout, and revealed he has been speaking to Van Persie about it.
"I've sent him the odd message
He's a great player and we'll have to follow him closely
I hope that he has a quiet game," the stopper noted.
De Gea has spent the last three seasons with United and explained he was delighted to be playing his football in England.
He added: "It's a great place to play football, the fans respect you a lot, it's wondrous."
Source : PA
Source: PA