Louis van Gaal keen to avoid Champions League qualifier

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has insisted that the club cannot afford to settle for fourth place in the Premier League table.

United require just a point to guarantee a place in the top four, but with only the top three earning qualification to the Champions League group stages, Van Gaal has stressed that they must push for victory against rivals Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

The Dutchman told MUTV: "We can say we have qualified for the Champions League, but that is not true.

"Maybe Liverpool cannot chase us anymore but we have to play a game before the entrance into the Champions League and that game is always tricky. It is not easy.

"We can give pressure to Arsenal and that is what we want to do on Sunday."

United will move one point clear of the Gunners with success at Old Trafford, but Arsenal still have a game in hand against Sunderland on Wednesday evening.