Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has claimed that his side were the best team in the division before injuries curtailed their season.

Van Gaal has been heavily criticised earlier in the campaign for his boring style of football, but despite this, was at a point top of the Premier League following some impressive defensive displays.

However, now the Red Devils are fighting to finish fourth, trailing Arsenal and Manchester City by five points, albeit they have a game in hand.

But the Dutchman was in buoyant mood after helping guide United to the final of the FA Cup via a last minute strike by Anthony Martial against Everton, going on to claim that his side would have been challenging the likes of Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur if they weren’t ravaged by a series of unfortunate injuries.

“When everybody was fit, we were first in the league at that time. Then when we had 14 injuries, or the double injuries on the full-back positions, I could not solve that problem." he is quoted by the Mirror.

“But still we are here, still we are fighting for the fourth place, also we are in the final of the FA Cup.

"We have played in three competitions — I think we are the team who have played the most matches in this season. We’ve done it with a small group with 14 injuries.

“They have shown great spirit a lot of times this season because we have lost, and I have said this a lot, against Liverpool and then we came back against West Ham, for example. We have lost against Arsenal 3-0 in London, then we won in Liverpool against Everton, 3-0.

“We have showed spirit a lot of times already. So I know that my team has spirit. You have seen it again [on Saturday after being pegged back by Everton].

“We need quick, creative players, I’ve said that also, in the transfer period. That’s a tricky remark of me because I have to manage players whose quality is not always what I want.

“But now the fans have seen a very exciting match. With a lot of entertainment.

"Maybe you can write about it!”

Van Gaal is expected to be replaced by Jose Mourinho in the summer, even if he wins the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace next month.

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