Louis van Gaal: 'Champions League battle will go down to the wire'

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has predicted that the battle for a Champions League place will go down to the wire this season.

The Red Devils are currently in pole position to claim one of the two top-four spots seemingly still up for grabs, leapfrogging Southampton up to third in the table courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Leicester City on Saturday.

However, the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are all beginning to find form, and Van Gaal is taking nothing for granted until the end of the season.

"It shall be a big battle to the end. That is a big battle. West Ham United has lost [to Liverpool on Saturday]. One competitor shall lose," he told MUTV.

United, who ended Saturday three points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, have an FA Cup replay against Cambridge United on Tuesday before travelling to West Ham United in their next league game.