Liverpool vs Manchester United: We will not wait for title as long as Anfield, says Louis van Gaal
United have not won the title since 2013 - Liverpool since 1990
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Your support makes all the difference.Louis van Gaal has admitted that Manchester United’s “transitional period” may last longer than the club initially expected, but he insists Old Trafford will not go through a 26-year title drought like that currently being endured by Liverpool.
United visit Anfield tomorrow aiming to kick-start their pursuit of Champions League qualification, having fallen to sixth in the Premier League after Tuesday’s 3-3 draw at Newcastle.
With the club failing to win, or even compete for, silverware since Sir Alex Ferguson retired as a title-winner in 2013, the revival of Arsenal, Manchester City and, until this season, Chelsea has raised doubts about United’s ability to challenge again. But having seen Liverpool suffer repeated disappointments since their last title in 1990, Van Gaal insists United will not go the same way. “When it happens to Liverpool it can happen to United, but I cannot imagine that,” Van Gaal said. “We are in transition and are going in the right way. Maybe it shall take a longer time, but I cannot imagine it shall be the same for United. It is too big and too well organised. We have an infrastructure and we are improving that every year.”
United, who will be without the injured Michael Carrick tomorrow, have won their last three league games against Liverpool, and Van Gaal says the secret to extending that run is for his players to stay calm at Anfield.
“It is a very big game, and that is how the fans are seeing it,” the United manager said. “I have felt it four times, with four games against them, including one in America, and you can see it in the faces of the players. Last year [Steven] Gerrard was sent off after 30 seconds. We need to be aggressive and under control, but that is always difficult because the passion in these games is very high.”
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