Louis Van Gaal: United in ‘rat race’ for Champions League spot

Newcastle v Manchester United

United sit fourth in the standings, just two points in front of Liverpool and four ahead of Southampton, who lead Spurs by two points — although the Londoners have a game in hand.

Van Gaal agrees with Arsene Wenger’s claim the contest will still be alive when United and Arsenal take on Hull and West Brom respectively on the last weekend of the season — although he does not know whether the Arsenal manager was right when he said 72 points would be enough to secure a top-four finish.

“I don’t think of how many points (it will take), but he is more experienced in the Premier League so I want to believe him,” the United manager said.

“But it is going to the last week, I know that.”

If Wenger’s estimate is right, United will have to win seven and draw one of their last 11 matches. That will be no easy task given that they have to face five of the other six teams in the top seven before the end of the season.

The Red Devils host Spurs, Manchester City and Arsenal and they also have to travel to Chelsea and Liverpool.

Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham and Southampton have only three fixtures against their rivals in the top seven, but Van Gaal does not seem overly perturbed by United’s upcoming games.

He chewed up one question and spat it right back at a reporter yesterday when he suggested United had the hardest run-in.

“No, because you said that also in front of the games in the beginning of the season and then we were 13th, do you remember that?” Van Gaal snapped.

“And in spite of all the games we had in front of us we moved up to third on the 22nd of November after the game against Chelsea.”

Van Gaal’s powers of recall are impressive, but for parts of this season the play his team has shown has not. United may have lost twice in 22 matches but some fans have been unhappy with the slow pace of their play.

And during the 2-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday, United fans booed when Jonny Evans played the ball back to goalkeeper David de Gea.

Van Gaal understands the supporters’ frustrations but insists passing back to the goalkeeper is sometimes not the worst option for a defender.

Van Gaal looks set to recall Angel di Maria for tonight’s trip to Newcastle even though he substituted the £59.7m man at half-time on Saturday.