Manchester United: Louis van Gaal says fan expectations have been 'too high' since his arrival

Louis van Gaal insists he has had to contend with unfair expectations this season at Manchester United. While the club have an FA Cup final against Crystal Palace to look forward to, United have endured another frustrating season where they look likely to miss out on Champions League qualification.

Since Van Gaal's arrival at Old Trafford in the summer of 2014, the club have spent in the excess of £250m ($367m) on incoming players, but are no closer to re-establishing themselves as Premier League title challengers.

Speaking at United's end of season awards on 2 May, where David de Gea was named player of the season for the third consecutive year, Van Gaal said: "I am happy to give the fans a final. The expectations are too high. We are in a period of transition. They players feel that. It is not so easy."

Van Gaal has repeatedly clashed with the English press this season, even demanding an apology during a press conference after accusing journalists of reporting his sacking ahead of schedule in December.

A somewhat frosty relationship between the Dutchman and the media has persisted and Van Gaal reckons his authority is still being undermined.

"When the media is writing for six months I am sacked already... I can cope with that. It is not new for me. For my players, it is not easy. They are reading every day. What do you think about my authority? What do you think about the way they want to follow my advice, when their coach is showed like a nobody because I cannot do anything?

"But I am not like that. I am very arrogant. I am one of the best managers of the world."

United currently sit in fifth place, four points adrift of Manchester City but with a game in hand.