Euro first
Champs League spot more important than FA Cup, says Van Gaal
Louis Van Gaal is more interested in Champions League football than Wembley glory. The Manchester United coach’s ultimate aim this season is to get into the English Premier League’s top four – with the FA Cup being treated as a mere bonus. LVG reckons qualifying for Europe’s top club competition is like winning a trophy. The Dutchman’s main fear about today’s quarter-final against old foes Arsenal is a defeat could lead to a slump in their league form. He said: “For the players the Cup is fantastic, for the manager it is fantastic. But the goal in our first year together is to secure a place in the Champions League.”
We are in a rat race in the Premier League and the team who win this match (against Arsenal) have a very good feeling for the next matches. — Louis Van GaaL
Louis Van Gaal is more interested in Champions League football than Wembley glory.
The Manchester United coach’s ultimate aim this season is to get into the Premier League’s top four – with the FA Cup being treated as a mere bonus.
LVG reckons qualifying for Europe’s top club competition is like winning a trophy.
The Dutchman’s main fear about today’s quarter-final against old foes Arsenal is a defeat could lead to a slump in their league form. He said: “I always want to reach the goals we have set, and the goal we have set is the top four. A Cup would be fantastic.
“What is important when you win the FA Cup but do not make the Champions League? A title.
“For the players the Cup is fantastic, for the manager it is fantastic.
“But the goal in our first year together is to secure a place in the Champions League.”
United fans would love to get past Arsenal at Old Trafford and have days out at Wembley for the semi-finals and final.
But LVG was recruited last summer primarily to get the club back among Europe’s big boys.
And ahead of this titanic clash, the 63-year-old sounded like a man who knew exactly what was required from this season.
He also agrees with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger that earning a Champions League place is like a fourth domestic trophy.
LVG said: “I think that Arsene Wenger is always saying the right things.
“I think that for a club, the Champions League is the highest level and it’s why he is saying that.
“To finish in the first four is a fantastic result.
“For us, Manchester United, more I think.”
Van Gaal fears a bad defeat in the tie could derail the top-four hopes of United or Arsenal, with just 10 games of the season left and five contenders for two slots.
He added: “It is important because every match you play has an influence on the next match.
“So we are in a rat race in the Premier League and the team who win this match have a very good feeling for the next matches.
“You have a good feeling and take that into the match with you. But that influence can be a positive or negative.
“After our defeat at Swansea we have won two matches and one was also an away game.
“So we have a good feeling now – that’s what I am saying.”
United have managed to remain in the top four heading into this FA Cup week despite playing some poor football.
And Van Gaal believes his side will have to get back to their best to beat Arsenal – unless Wenger’s men have an off-day.
He said: “It is difficult to say, because Arsenal can always play at their best.
“But then again they can also play not so good.
“It always depends on your opponent, but normally against Arsenal you have to play at your best, and against Chelsea you have to play at your best.
“But I think in the Premier League when you are not at your best it is very difficult to beat any opponent.
“So when we are not playing against clubs from the top four or six or 10, they are also difficult to beat.
“And against Newcastle you’ve seen you also need a bit of luck.” — The Sun, London