Football: Man Utd boss eyes top spot

After scoring his second goal Manchester United's Abder Herrera, centre left, speaks to teammate Radamel Falcao, right, as Michael Carrick looks on. Photo / AP

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal insists he has not given up hope of ending his first season in charge as an English Premier League champion after a 3-1 win over Aston Villa lifted his team into third place.

United's fifth consecutive victory, courtesy of two goals from Ander Herrera and one from Wayne Rooney, took United above defending champions Manchester City, who they meet in next weekend's derby, and kept them within eight points of leaders Chelsea.

Van Gaal's team also have an eight-point gap over fifth-placed Liverpool, making Champions League qualification all the more likely.

Van Gaal has his sights set on overhauling Chelsea, who host United in a crunch clash later this month, rather than worrying about teams below.

"The Champions League is not done yet but we made a big gap to Liverpool so we can suffer a defeat," van Gaal said. "But of course I'm also looking higher up the table and then we have to win every week and then everything is possible.

"Liverpool are now eight points behind us and we are more than eight points behind Chelsea so it's not likely that we shall be the champions. But when you give pressure - and Arsenal are also giving pressure to Chelsea - then it is possible.

"We have to play the top three in the league, and normally, if you play against better teams they have achieved more points than you, so it's not yet done."

Key United players are hitting a rich vein of form currently, led by Herrera, who now has seven goals in his debut season in English football.

There is now added importance to the Manchester derby for United, but van Gaal is aware City will provide far tougher opposition than Villa's defensive-minded approach.

- AAP