Van Gaal ramps up race for top-four finish

Louis van Gaal is focusing on securing Champions League football

Louis van Gaal has said rivals Manchester City are now involved in the "rat race" to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League.

A 1-0 defeat by Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday - coupled with leaders Chelsea's 1-1 draw at home with Southampton - means Manuel Pellegrini's men now trail table-toppers Chelsea by six points, while Jose Mourinho's side also have a game in hand on their nearest-challengers.

With just nine more games to go, Manchester United manager van Gaal said City must now focus their efforts on the race to secure Champions League football for next season.

"We have to take it step by step, it is a rat race," van Gaal told reporters, after his side moved five points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool in the Premier League with a 3-0 win against Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday. "We are within two points of second position, but first position in my opinion is too far away.

"Of course they Manchester Cityn/a have been dragged in. Arsenal are only one point behind them and we are only two points behind.

"It is good for us, the fans and for the media because you can write a lot of things about it now."

Arsenal are now only a point behind the defending champions in third place while United occupy the coveted fourth spot just two points behind their local rivals.

Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick and captain Wayne Rooney were all on target in a one-sided win against Mauricio Pochettino's fellow top-four hopefuls and van Gaal was delighted with the response following last week's exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Arsenal.

"We have waited a long time for such a victory and it was better because the performance was good against a very good team," said the former Netherlands coach.

"I was very pleased, but I'm not sure if it was our best. You have to watch it again on video, but we played like a team, very determined after a defeat like we had against Arsenal, that we lost because of ourselves."

The 63-year-old said he hoped his players would use Sunday's win as a springboard to end the season on a high.

Next up for the former champions is a short trip across the East Lancs Road to Anfield to take on in-form bitter rivals Liverpool on Sunday. Brendan Rodgers's men travel to face Swansea City on Monday night in the Premier League and have not lost in normal time on a remarkable upturn in form since, ironically, they were beaten by United 3-0 at Old Trafford back in December.

United have not won at the home of their long-standing fierce rivals since September 2012 when they recovered from a Steven Gerrard goal to seal a 2-1 win.

New manager van Gaal said he was aware of United's poor recent record on Merseyside but identified Sunday's victory as a potential catalyst for the upset.

"To do that in a massively important game against a competitor after such a defeat means I'm very pleased with the players," added the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona coach. "Maybe it is the game that gives us a fantastic boost.

"We are looking step by step and our next game is at Liverpool. I believe it is not so often that United have won at Anfield recently."

United face Aston Villa (h), Manchester City (h), Chelsea (a) and Everton (a) in a tough-looking April before ending the campaign in May against West Brom (h), Crystal Palace (a), Arsenal (h) and Hull City (a).