Van Gaal urges Manchester United to focus on assault in Champions League
Manchester United stand on the verge of claiming at least fourth place in the English Premier League and rejoining the European elite in the Uefa Champions League. Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on 9 May is their first obstacle.
Issued on:
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has urged his players to focus on their last three games as they bid for a finish in the Champions League places in the English Premier League.
Van Gaal will be without midfielder Michael Carrick for the games against Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Hull City.
The Dutchman said the 33-year-old midfielder would concentate on being ready for the start of the next campaign.
Since Carrick injured his calf in the 4-2 win over Manchester City last month, United have lost games against Chelsea, Everton and West Bromwich Albion.
"It's more serious than we thought," said van Gaal. "We'll get him ready for next season but it's a loss for this season. When you see the statistics, it's obvious that Carrick is an important player for us."
United go into the game in south-east London four points ahead of Liverpool in the battle for fourth place.
The Merseysiders are also in London this weekend. They're heading west to Chelsea, who were anointed champions last Sunday following their 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho responded to the triumph by giving his squad four days off to celebrate.
"I'm not worried about that," Van Gaal added. "It's normal when you are the champions. Chelsea will do their best to beat Liverpool."
Van Gaal is trying to arrest a slump in which the team has failed to score in their last three games. Palace inhabit a similar slough of despond.
But, unlike Palace, United can tackle such misfortune with big money deals. On Thursday United announced that the Netherlands interntational Memphis Depay would join them once the transfer market opens next month.
The 21-year-old scored 21 goals in 34 outings this season to help PSV take the Dutch title for the first time since 2008.
Depay has been acquired with an eye on the future. Main strikers Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie are 29 and 31 respectively.
There's also a certain logic about the move. Depay worked with van Gaal during last summer's World Cup in Brazil when he was coaching the Netherlands squad.
"I have been forced to sign him," van Gaal said on Friday. "I didn't want to sign him before the end of the season because we have to focus on our games and when you sign a player you disturb the focus of your present group of players and the coming matches are very important for Manchester United and for all of the players."
Van Gaal said that if he hadn't moved quickly to secure Depay's signature, the player would have joined the French champions Paris St Germain.
As the English and French seasons enter their final stages, PSG are at the moment able to guarantee Depay Uefa Champions League action during the 2015-2016 season.
United aren't yet there. But at least they stand on the cusp.
"I think a lot of people have been surprised at where Manchester United are in the Premier League table," Manchester Evening News football writer Stuart Matheson told RFI. "Only a few weeks ago people were talking about how they were clinging on to the top four places by their finger nails. They were contemplating the Europa League or even another season without European football. Now they're in the driving seat."
If van Gaal does manage to lead United to next season's Champions League, he would have fulfilled one of the key parts of the assignment taken on last summer.
"We've spoken about it so many times," the 63-year-old Dutchman said. "The Champions League is a prize in itself and a club like Manchester United needs to be in it. They need to be there playing at the highest level."
Two wins from their final three games will guarantee them a spot at European football's top table.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning
Subscribe