LVG: Europe battle will go to the wire

MANCHESTER United manager Louis van Gaal expects the battle for Champions League qualification to go right down to the wire.

Van Gaal says his team is involved in a “rat race” with Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Southampton for the last two Champions League qualification places.

United are fourth in the table, one ahead of Southampton and two of Liverpool, who lead Spurs by four points

Van Gaal agrees with Arsene Wenger’s claim that the contest will still be alive when United and Arsenal take on Hull and West Brom respectively on the last weekend of the season — though he doesn’t know whether the Gunners’ manager was right when he said 72 points would be enough to secure a top–four finish.

“He is more experienced in the Premier League so I want to believe him,” said the United boss as he prepared his side for the trip to Newcastle United tonight, “but it is going to the last week, I know that.”

If Wenger’s estimate is right, United will have to win seven and draw one of their last 11 matches.

That will be no easy task given that they have to face five of the other six teams in the top seven before the end of the season.