• Premier League

Val Gaal: Manchester United in top-four 'rat race'

Manchester United are in a five-way battle with Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs and Southampton for a top-four finish © Getty Images

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Louis van Gaal is aiming to win the 'rat race' that will see Manchester United return to the Champions League next season.

With Chelsea and Manchester City vying for the Premier League title, United are locked in a five-way battle for third and fourth place with Arsenal, Liverpool, Southampton and Tottenham.

And their manager, who was set the target of taking United back into Europe's premier club competition on his arrival at Old Trafford, admits every match matters between now and the end of the season.

He said in a news conference: "It is because of the rat race between five clubs that we have to win, we have to be there. It is not so important now, but at the end of the season. Therefore you have to win your matches because the other clubs are winning their matches."

United, who have budgeted to finish third, had only lost once in a run of 19 games before they were defeated 2-1 by Swansea last week.

Lose against Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday and Van Gaal knows the side will be in even greater danger of missing out on a top-four finish in May.

"[That would be a] big disappointment, of course, a big disappointment," Van Gaal said. "When you start the season with the objective of finishing in the first four of the league it is your objective and you are occupied with doing that.

"But we are still there, I don't know why are we talking about it when it is not like that, because we are still there. What is the problem?

"It is our objective to reach the top four, we have talked about that in the start of the job here in Manchester United. It is also a process of three years and when you have asked me at the start of the season that I am at 1 May and still in first four then I should sign for it.

"We are still in the FA Cup so I am pleased with the results, but not with a lot of the performances of my team."

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