• Premier League

Van Gaal: United lucky to beat Southampton

Robin van Persie scored both of Manchester United's goals © Getty Images

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Louis van Gaal admits Manchester United were fortunate to beat Southampton after Robin van Persie's double led them to a 2-1 victory at St Mary's.

Van Persie struck either side of a Graziano Pelle strike, but the visitors were frequently loose in possession and needed a strong performance from goalkeeper David De Gea to secure the win.

Van Gaal told Sky his side "lost the ball too easily in the first half because our positional play wasn't good" and that "Southampton were the better team".

"When you are the better team then you deserve more, but believe me that it's always the goals that are counted," he added. "[When we] played the first six or seven matches, we never won but were always the better team - I never said anything about that.

"It's fantastic to be third, but I hoped we would do it with a better performance. We are the lucky team."

Van Gaal suggested earlier in the season that Van Persie could lose his place if he did not find his form, but he was swift to praise the striker for his match-winning performance on Monday.

"He was one of three players on the pitch for Manchester United who was good, or maybe very good, and he had a great influence on the result," he said.

"His best performance [for me this season], very pleased with his performance and his goals. The second was not so easy - the ball was coming with his right foot and he took it on his left foot."

Van Gaal had substituted defender Paddy McNair before the break after a troubled start to the match, and he confirmed it had been a tactical decision.

"He had not any confidence," he said. "It was very disappointing for me and for Paddy, but I had to."

Van Persie agreed with his coach that United had been fortunate to claim the three points.

"I don't think we played our best football today," he told Sky Sports. "We were a bit sloppy here and there. We fought hard and in the end we nicked it."

He added: "It was a tough game. They have a good team so we knew what to expect, but I think it's our fifth straight victory so we are on the way up."

When asked about whether he felt sharp on the night, he said: "Yeah, I felt good. To be fair I've felt good over the last couple of weeks. Fitness-wise I think I can play 90 minutes easier and tonight I thought keep going and it will come."

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