Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has stated that the days when the club automatically demanded to win silverware is over and that the Old Trafford faithful should realise that there isn’t a divine right for the team to be successful.

The Red Devils had a purple path under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, with the Scot leading the club to an outstanding period of success.

However, since the legendary tactician’s decision to retire United have struggled to keep up with the Premier League’s top teams.

Van Gaal has steadied the ship and has the club on the up again, but saw his side eliminated from the Champions League in midweek following defeat to Wolfsburg.

The Dutchman has stated that United can no longer expect to win silverware and that the Premier League is one of the most difficult divisions to negotiate in European football.

“They say a club like Manchester United has to win,” Van Gaal told The Guardian.

“That’s the past. You have to analyse the club now. Now we have much more clubs who have money … also the structure and are able to win something.

“Next year, all the clubs in the Premier League have a bigger budget than most in Europe. That makes a big difference. Every club can also buy a player. You think Manchester United has a lot of money – that is true. But other clubs are asking for much more from us than from Bournemouth.

“The difference is not so big any more. The confirmation is every week. The bottom clubs can beat the top teams. There is no other league where that happens as often as it does in the Premier League. It is very difficult for a Premier League club to match with the other leagues in the Champions League. It was not so easy for all the clubs to qualify themselves.”

United are still in the hunt for the Premier League title and sit fourth currently, while they will now also compete in the Europa League.

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