Manchester United vs Arsenal: Louis van Gaal concedes 'Champions League is more important than the FA Cup'
United manager reiterates that a top-four finish remains the priority at Old Trafford
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Your support makes all the difference.Louis van Gaal has re-iterated Manchester United’s priority this season is to finish in the top four of the Premier League as the club prepare to meet Arsenal in the quarter-final of the FA Cup tomorrow evening.
“When you win the FA Cup you are not in the Champions League,” Van Gaal said, “but you have won a title [cup]. For the players, that’s fantastic, and for the manager that’s fantastic, but our goal [priority] is to reach, in our first year together, a place in the Champions League.”
Van Gaal said he agreed with Arsene Wenger’s assessment that finishing in the top four in the Premier League is akin to winning a trophy: “Yes, I think that he’s right. I think Arsene Wenger is always saying the right things.
“The Champions League is the highest level. To finish in the first four is a fantastic result I think, and for Manchester United more.”
United received £44.7m from Uefa for reaching the Champions League quarter-finals last season under David Moyes, not to mention the revenue generated from five home games at Old Trafford.
They have no such income this season and the possibility of finishing outside the top four again is exercising minds at Old Trafford.
Just four points separate third-placed Arsenal from Tottenham in sixth. After tomorrow’s cup tie, United play Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea over their next five League games.
Van Gaal said: “Monday is very important because every match that you play carries an influence into the next match. We are in a rat race in the Premier League and the club who win this match have a very good feeling for the next matches.
“After the defeat at Swansea City, we’ve won two matches. We have a good feeling now.
“That’s what I am saying.
“I want to get the goals that we have set and the goal we have set is the first [top] four.”
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