Louis van Gaal claims Manchester United can win the Premier League if they beat Chelsea

LOUIS VAN GAAL insists that if Manchester United can continue their good form by beating on Chelsea on Sunday they can still be title contenders.

 

Louis van Gaal is still eyeing the Premier League title

 

And he claims that only two clubs – Arsenal and Crystal Palace – have been better than United in the 24 Premier League games they have played so far.

United are fifth, 10 points behind leaders Leicester and five points off the top four, but a run off five wins, two draws and a solitary defeat in their last eight games in League and Cup has boosted confidence in the Old Trafford camp that the League is not out of reach.

Van Gaal has been encouraged by the attacking performances his team have produced in their last two games, the FA Cup win over Derby, and the League win over Stoke on Tuesday. But he says the feeling that the title is still not out of reach will be strengthened if they can win at Stamford Bridge.

 

He said: “Michael Carrick said to me, and I had the same feeling, that the competition [the Premier League] is not finished yet, not for Manchester United or the other teams.

“We have the feeling [that we can still win the title] because we have won twice in a row with sparkling football, scored six goals, only one conceded and against opponents who were in great form – Stoke had played Liverpool off the pitch a week before they played us.

“I have that feeling also because only Crystal Palace and Arsenal this season were better than us. I think the home game against Southampton [United lost 1-0] we were equally as bad as each other.

 

“The feeling I have will be strengthened if we can beat Chelsea.  That is not simple though. Since Guus Hiddinck took over they have not lost. But I think our league season is starting again so that is very important.

“Scoring three goals in each of our last two games has given a big boost to the players. You can see that in the training sessions. But now we have to show it consistently in a run of games.”

 

Asked if he felt his United side were finally clicking under him, after the back-to-back wins, Van Gaal said: “I cannot say that yet, because I am more critical than the media. I am not out of range when we win in a way that we like but I'm also not as disappointed when we lose in a way I don't like.

“In certain positions, our cover in certain positions is below level. I don't want to hide behind injuries, but when you have five or six injuries in the same position, you cannot hide, and you have to solve problems you cannot solve. But players are coming back now and I believe we can continue how we started the season.”

Phil Jones is set to return to the squad for Sunday’s game but Shaw, Antonio Valencia, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Ashley Young and Marcos Rojo are all still out.