Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is not sure if you could consider his team to be Champions League contenders, despite him having spent £250 million on new players since joining the club the summer before last.
“We have to show on the pitch if we are able to win matches on the highest level,” LVG said.
“That’s also a challenge for us now. Last year we were fourth in the Premier League.
“We qualified ourselves this year and that was our aim so now we have to show if we are able to play at that level and that I don’t know, either. I have to wait and see.
“I think the Champions League is a higher podium than the Premier League but maybe it’s not like that.”
Speaking ahead of United’s trip to Holland where they will take on Dutch champions PSV at the Philips Stadion on Tuesday night, van Gaal confirmed that captain Wayne Rooney will be missing through injury and that he will probably start new boy Anthony Martial from the bench as he did in the 3-1 win over Liverpool last weekend.
“I’ve only had one training session after the [Liverpool] match. His impression is good, but you have to give him time.”
“That’s why I’m asking the fans. He cannot change his market price.”
The United manager admitted he is expecting a tough test in Eindhoven adding: “A draw away is always a good result in my opinion.”
“But I want to win and the first match, it is very important to win. And it is also like that for PSV, so you have to wait and see.”
A draw away is always a good result in my opinion. But I want to win and the first match, it is very important to win.
Louis van Gaal
Van Gaal was linked with the PSV manager’s role earlier in his career but insists that will never happen now, as he intends to retire after his role at United.
“It was always dependable on the moment,” said the 64-year-old Dutchman.
“Now the moment has passed, so I shall not work at PSV. I will retire after my job in Manchester, so it is not possible.”
