Van Gaal 'confident' of top-four finish despite Chelsea, City and Liverpool fixtures ahead

LOUIS VAN GAAL believes Manchester United can win the "rat race" and qualify for the Champions League, despite a tough fixture list ahead for his side.

Louis van Gaal at Manchester UnitedGETTY

Louis van Gaal's Manchester United still must play all of the top six teams in the Premier League

United sit fourth in the Premier League, two points above Liverpool and one below third-placed Arsenal.

They host Tottenham on Sunday before a trip to Anfield and then must play Manchester City and Chelsea back-to-back in April, before facing Arsenal again in the penultimate game of the season.

But Van Gaal believes his side can bounce back from their FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Arsenal on Monday and secure a top-four place in the league.

Van Gaal: Falcao not humiliated [AMBIENT]

"I have the same confidence as before," said Van Gaal.

"We were very disappointed at the last game because the players had the feeling that we lost (because of) ourselves and not (because of) the opponent.

"But I am very pleased with the reaction from the players this week and I hope we can show that against Tottenham because it is the first of 10 matches we have to play in the rat race."

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