Van Gaal claims CL glory has always been Man U's goal

Manchester United football team manager Louis van Gaal has claimed that a return to the Champions League is their goal and insisted that it has been so from the start.

In the last month, Van Gaal has seen United's challenge to Manchester City and Chelsea at the top of the Premier League shattered, but the Dutchman has still all but ruled out the club from the title race.

United failed to build on a psychological beating of Liverpool 3-0 at home and since that success they have won just six points out of a possible 16, Manchester EveningNews reported.

United's decline was signalled by a pre-Christmas 1-1 draw at Aston Villa and only a Boxing Day 3-0 thrashing of Newcastle United at Old Trafford was a bright spot in a miserable month containing further draws away at Stoke City and Spurs for the Dutchman's club.

Moreover, Southampton's 1-0 win at Old Trafford last Sunday might have proved to be the final nail in the title coffin for Van Gaal, with Chelsea extending their lead at the top of the table to 12 points over United.

However, Van Gaal insists a return to Champions League football at Old Trafford next season is his target. He said that the Champions League is their goal and that he has always said, even in the beginning.

The Dutchman said that they want to be champion, but then one has to win matches against Southampton and Aston Villa away or something like that. He added that when one is not doing that one cannot be champion.

So, Van Gaal further said that their goal was from the beginning that they start a process that their goal is within the first four because they want to play in the Champions League and that is still their goal.

Southampton's win last weekend meant they leapfrogged United into third place.

Van Gaal said that at this moment United has played 20 matches or 21 and they are in the top four, adding that they have to fight for it because a lot of other teams are willing the same goal.