Van Persie Lauds United's Spirit

Robin van Persie admitted a degree of fortune featured in Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Southampton, but felt the tireless efforts of his side earned the three points.

A brace from the Dutchman – one netted after capitalising on a Jose Fonte error, the other as the Saints were in the ascendancy with the scoreline level – ensured the Reds left the south coast third in the Barclays Premier League table after the encounter looked like it could swing in the hosts’ favour.

“Everyone gave absolutely everything and in the end we nicked it,” van Persie assessed in his post-match interview. “It was a tough game; they (Southampton) have a good team, so we knew what to expect – we’ve been training on it all week. In the end, it’s our fifth straight victory, so we are on the way up.

“It is a bit of a gamble,” the frontman said of his relentless work to latch onto Fonte’s backpass and to then open the scoring. “Nine out of ten times it doesn’t come off, and then you still have to score. I was a bit lucky there – I think it went through his legs, but you can earn your luck in those situations."

Van Persie was also pleased to report an improvement in his physical state and the manner in which he took advantage of it against the Saints.

“I’ve been feeling very well over the last couple of weeks,” the goalscorer revealed. “Physically, I can make my runs over and over again. I had a feeling that it was coming. Last week, I was thinking against Stoke that I had a really good feeling; I was feeling fit. Although I had a good feeling, not everything came together in that game. Today, overall, we can be happy and I can be happy as well. I can play 90 minutes easy and every time it gets easier – tonight as well. I could keep going in the last minutes and that’s what you want. Then the goals, assists and wins will come. I just have to keep it going and play more.

"In these games, it is a quality to bring it (the victory) over the line. After my second goal, we still had to play 25 minutes against a very good side. You know they (Southampton) will get chances because they’re a good team, but we did well. We had a fantastic ‘keeper, a great back four – or five – today and I think we did ever so well."

Refusing to rest on his laurels, United’s no.20 revealed his desire for Louis van Gaal’s men to further build on the run of victories. “The next game is Liverpool (at Old Trafford on Sunday), so we’re looking forward to that. We are really happy that we are on the way up now. We have to keep the momentum going."

Robin van Persie was speaking to MUTV and Sky Sports.