Van Gaal Pleased To Meet Big Challenge

Louis van Gaal admits he is satisfied with Manchester United's campaign because he feels it was a season of upheaval at the club after a number of experienced stars departed in the summer.

The Reds lost veterans Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic from the defence, and the boss invested in the transfer market before implementing his own ideas. With a top-four spot now virtually assured, van Gaal is able to reflect on a job well done ahead of Arsenal's visit on Sunday.

When asked if it was a case of mission almost accomplished, he replied: "Of course, because we have set the goals, the board and I, for what was reasonable. I think it was a big challenge. When I came here, there were a lot of players here and, nobody knows, but we have let go of 15 players and bought only five players.

"We also did it with different players to the year before because, when you lose players like Evra, Ferdinand and Vidic, that's experience - defensive organisation. Then you renew your total defence because we have played more with Antonio Valencia, for example, as a right-back, and he was a right-winger. And then [Phil] Jones, [Jonny] Evans, [Chris] Smalling and [Marcos] Rojo have to play for us, and [Luke] Shaw, who is 19 years old.

"So, I think we did very good, but it is not good enough because, at the end, we want to be champions. Now, at the end, we want to be third because that is still possible. We can put pressure on Arsenal and that is what we want to do on Sunday."

The manager accepts a Champions League qualifier could be extremely awkward if the Gunners cannot be overhauled in third place.

"It is always tricky because we can say we have qualified ourselves for the Champions League," he added. "But it is not true. Maybe Liverpool cannot chase us any more, but we have to play again before the entrance in the Champions League and that game is always tricky. It is not easy. I am not expecting any easy games any more."