Louis van Gaal: Man Utd can chase down Chelsea and Man City to win title
Posted Friday, December 26, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk
MANCHESTER UNITED boss Louis van Gaal has set his sights on winning the title this season.
United bosses have set Van Gaal a target of finishing in the top four, But the no-nonsense Dutchman will not be satisfied with a return to the Champions League and wants United to become champions again in his first season.
United trail Chelsea by 10 points at the top of the table and second-placed neighbours Manchester City by seven.
Van Gaal’s side have a mountain to climb to catch and overtake their main rivals in the second half of the season.
But the veteran boss insists leading the Premier League at this time of year counts for nothing and wants United to be top dogs come the end of the campaign.
Van Gaal, whose side host Newcastle today, said: “In the Netherlands and also in Germany you have the Christmas champions.
But that doesn’t count at the end of May - then you have to be first.
NOT IMPORTANT: Louis van Gaal insists leading the table at Christmas counts for nothing
"In Holland and Germany we have a Christmas champion - PSV and Bayern Munich are the Christmas champions.
"It’s better to be the Christmas champions, then the possibility you shall be next champion is bigger - but not certain.
"But the best achievement is champion (overall) because our goal is still to be champions at the end of the season.
"That’s also the best result. We are looking in a football world where No. 1 is the most important thing.
"Our goal is to be first. It’s not always so easy, you can see that.
"That’s why the board have said that our goal is within the first four places but still, with my players and all the staff, we are trying to achieve more than they expect from us.”
Van Gaal will be without injured stars Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini for the visit of the Magpies as United look to extend their unbeaten run to eight games.
Van Gaal has defended his decision to remain in the dug-out during games and not venture into the technical area like Sir Alex Ferguson used to do.
He added: “I don’t see any influence from me when I am in there shouting. They (the players) are not understanding you.
"With the fans in the Premier League shouting so much, they (the players) can’t understand you. I also don’t think I can influence the referee, no.
"That’s why I’m always on the bench. You have trained them (the players) to read the game by themselves.
"It is much more important that they are more involved with the game, that they make their own decisions. It is like a child, you educate them.”
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