While sealing a top four Premier League place is their goal for the season, Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has second placed Manchester City in his sights.

Manchester United’s 3-1 win over Leicester City yesterday helped them to close the gap on Manchester City in second place, who later managed only a draw at Cheslea, to just five points.




While Southampton can still leapfrog them to third in the league table if they can avoid a home defeat against Swansea later today, Van Gaal is looking beyond just batting for a top four spot this season.

Though he believes the battle for the top four places will go down to the wire this term, Van Gaal noted that Manchester United have managed to close the gap with Manchester City in second and indicated that they could still catch their local rivals.
 


"I have already said in press conferences [that the race for a Champions League spot could go to the final weekend] because that is a big battle", Van Gaal explained to in-house TV channel MUTV.  

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"We are [five] points off Manchester City, for example.

"So I believe it shall be a big battle in the end."

Manchester United’s next league encounter is an away trip to Upton Park to face West Ham and Van Gaal will be desperate for his side to pick up another three-point haul to keep the pressure on Manchester City.

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