Ahead of the FA Cup quarter final against Arsenal, Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal has claimed that he prefers to qualify for the Champions League next season rather than win the FA Cup as his first piece of silverware at Old Trafford.
Jason Burt writes in his column for the Daily Telegraph that Van Gaal has agreed with Arsene Wenger’s claim that a top-four place in the Premier League was comparable to winning a trophy.
With defender Jonny Evans banned six games for the spitting incident, Van Gaal will have to reshuffle his defensive back line against the Gunners. The FA Cup presents United a golden opportunity to win their first piece of silverware in Van Gaal’s first season in charge but the Dutch legend is not willing to compromise his main objective of finishing in the top four.
Van Gaal said, “I want to get always the goals that we have set. And the goals that we have set is the first four. And a title is fantastic. What is important for the club when you win the FA Cup you are not in the Champions League but you have won the title. A title.”
“So, for the players, it is fantastic, for the manager, it is fantastic, but our goal is to reach in our first year together a place in the Champions League.”
When asked whether he agreed with Arsene Wenger’s statement that finishing in the top four is like a trophy, Van Gaal said: “Yes, I think that he is right. I think that Arsène Wenger is saying always the right things. I think that for a club the Champions League is the highest level and that’s why he is saying that. And to finish in the first four, it’s a fantastic result, I think, and for us, Manchester United, more I think.”
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