London - While Arsene Wenger continued to show signs of strain, Louis van Gaal cut an increasingly confident figure in the rival camp.
For Van Gaal, it is a case of when and not if Manchester United win at the Emirates tomorrow. Victory will, he believes, add to the growing sense of belief around Old Trafford that United’s sudden rise to the top of the table is the start of a sustained challenge for the Premier League title this season.
United could give up first place to Manchester City for 24 hours before meeting Arsenal, but Van Gaal insists that the improvement in his squad means they are capable of staying top in the long run.
‘You always have to believe in this,’ he said.
‘I think the balance in our selection is much better than last year, so I believe in that. But the most important thing is not only that I believe, but that the players are believing in that. When we win at Arsenal the belief will rise a lot.’
Van Gaal was full of praise for Wenger at the end of another difficult week for the Frenchman, lauding him as one of the best coaches in the world.
However, he was less sure when asked if he could have stayed at a club for so long without winning a title. It is more than 11 years since Wenger’s team were crowned champions of England.
‘That is difficult to answer because I have won a lot of titles and that’s also my aim,’ said Van Gaal, who won the championship in his first season at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
‘I want to do that in different countries. Not only in the Netherlands, but after that in Spain and after that in Germany, and after that in England. That’s my ambition.
‘I am not that type. I like to win a lot, as a manager also.
‘I think that he (Wenger) is doing great work. When you can stay in a club for such a long period of time, like Sir Alex Ferguson, you have to be very good otherwise you shall not succeed.
‘So I think Arsene Wenger is one of the best coaches of this world, and the same thing with Sir Alex, who I think is the best because he won the most titles.
‘Arsene Wenger, when you are with one club for such a long time, and everyone is satisfied - the fans, the board, the players - then you are very good, believe me.’
Meanwhile, United defender Donald Love, 20, has joined Wigan on a two-month loan.
The Scotland Under 21 international took part in Van Gaal’s first-team training session before Wednesday’s Champions League win over Wolfsburg and was on standby to make his debut.Wigan manager Gary Caldwell said: ‘We believe he has immense potential. Let’s hope he can start realising some of that potential here.
Daily Mail