Louis van Gaal believes Manchester United could never again go 26 years without the league title, as Liverpool are likely to, because the club is too big.
As United are nine points behind the joint leaders, Arsenal and Leicester City, they may end up waiting at least four years between titles, their most recent having come in May 2013.
Liverpool’s last championship was in 1990 during a period of dominance for the club. Given their status at the time, there was no warning they would have to wait at least 26 years for a 19th crown.
Asked if United may have to wait a long time for a title – having not won the league between 1967 and 1993 – Van Gaal said: “I am part of the transition so I cannot imagine that shall happen with Manchester United. But as you say when it is happening to Liverpool it can happen also to Manchester United. But I cannot imagine that, as we are in position and we are going in the right way. Maybe it shall take a longer time but I cannot imagine that it shall be the same for Manchester United: it’s too big, too well organised.”
Recent goals
Wayne Rooney has scored four times in his past three games, including twice in Tuesday night’s 3-3 draw at Newcastle United. The captain has 11 goals in all competitions for the club and Van Gaal said the recent goals were a relief.
“It makes it more easy for me when he scores because I have put all my money on Wayne as a striker,” he said. “But last year I remember that Wayne never scored once at Liverpool in 10 years. So he has to break that record, then I am very pleased.”
Van Gaal is conscious of the boost a victory over Liverpool would provide. “For me, of course it will be beneficial if we beat Liverpool again. For the players it’s beneficial but every win in the Premier League is beneficial.
“But it’s such an important opponent of United, in the history also, then it is more beneficial than beating other teams.”
Van Gaal believes United may be Liverpool’s “ghost” team as his side have defeated them on the four occasions they have met with the Dutchman at Old Trafford. “A ghost team is one against whom you cannot win. Swansea City is, for me, a ghost team, but not any more, as we have beaten them.”
Despite United’s disappointing sixth position in the league he insisted the time to criticise United is if they finish outside the top three.
“You have to be in the top three at the end of the season, not at this moment,” he said. “It’s better to be first, I agree with that, but we are still, in the two years I have been here, in transition, and that’s maybe also the reason. But still you have to be fighting for first position. Now we are not fighting for first position, when you don’t win against Newcastle, in those circumstances. You can lose against
“Newcastle, that is not the problem, but when you are in those circumstances, and you have to play five minutes and you are 3-2 ahead, you have to control that game.
‘Goal difference’
“For example, Chelsea, last year, did that. They won with one goal difference and they finished the game then. A champion has to do that.
“You can still say we have underperformed, because Manchester United has to be in the first three in the Premier League, and the same thing counts for Liverpool.” – Guardian service
