Vital Signs For van Gaal's United

Manchester United legend Paddy Crerand believes Louis van Gaal's men have the makings of a team to be reckoned with – if the Reds can shake the bad luck with injuries that has plagued the side this season.

United have drawn 1-1 with Chelsea and lost 1-0 to Manchester City in the last two matches but, for Crerand, the fighting spirit and quality shown in both games highlights that the Dutchman's team is heading in the right direction and, with more opportunities for consistent team selection, results should follow.

"If we get an injury-free spell and the manager gets a settled team then that will make a huge difference," Crerand told ManUtd.com. "You have to fancy Chelsea in the league, but Europe could affect some of the other teams at the top of the table and that could play to our advantage.

"We want to be in the Champions League, of course we do. Everybody does, and getting back there is our big aim this season. Most people were expecting big things this year and because of the injury situation it's not happened so far. It's just a case of getting everyone fit. United can go on a long run of games and we've got to see that happen. It will happen, I'm confident of that."

Van Gaal is piecing the jigsaw together, instilling his philosophy at Old Trafford and doing it with new players after a summer featuring numerous squad changes.

"It's a new squad with everybody getting to know each other," added Crerand. "Every day the players are training together but the important thing is playing together.

"Without Champions League football you could say there is time to get things right and develop that understanding on the training ground, but with fewer games you have fewer opportunities to work on it when it really matters: in matches.

"Injuries haven't helped because you want players to be playing together. But you can see signs that things are coming together and I was really encouraged by the performance against Manchester City, even though ultimately we were disappointed to lose.

"The more these players play together, the better they'll get to know each other's style, what the guy next to you likes and doesn't like. At the same time we have to get a win to lift confidence further and get back up that league."