Louis van Gaal admits his team are 'better than last year's'

Manchester United manager, Louis van Gaal, admits that his team are better off this season than last season where they ultimately finished fourth. The Dutchman's team are currently in 6^th and look primed to finish in the top four again but considering the roller coaster of a season we're having, could very well end up even as high up as 2^nd or 3^rd.

United are yet to play this weekend with a trip to West Bromwich Albion on the cards. A win over Tony Pulis' men will give United the same number of points they finished last season with 9 games to spare and considering they're still in the Europa League and the FA Cup, Van Gaal demands his players be shown respect for their consistency.

"I think this team is better than last year's, but we don't get the benefit of that because we have had so many injuries," Van Gaal said. "When we had only three or four players injured earlier in the season, we were first in the Premier League. But nobody remembers that.

"Last year, we also had a lot of injuries, but then you could say that our training schedule was maybe too heavy. But this year, we have only had contact injuries. There are no muscle problems, only contact injuries, so it is not our fault anymore.

"This year, we have a smaller group than last year, but we have an injury list of 14 or 15 players. Every week we have a big problem. So to reach our aim to be in the Champions League, it would be fantastic, and it would mean my staff will have done fantastically well. But, of course, so have the players, because they have to adapt every week to playing alongside new teammates."

Even though they might finish in the top four a secure a Champions League spot for next season, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager insists a trophy will do the squad, fans and the board a world of good.

"Finishing in the top four is still our aim, but we are also aiming to win a trophy," he said. "Manchester United have never won the Europa League, so it would be fantastic for our fans if we could do that.

"Winning a trophy always means more than finishing fourth in the Premier League, but qualifying for the Champions League is our aim."