Manchester United vs Arsenal: Louis van Gaal prioritises top-four finish over FA Cup triumph

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has admitted that a top-four finish in the Premier League is more important than winning the FA Cup.

The Red Devils are in the race to finish in the top four, but face stiff competition from rivals Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton. The Old Trafford side are currently in fourth place, two points ahead of the Merseyside club, who are in fourth and a point behind the Gunners who occupy the third spot.

Apart from the tight Premier League battle, Van Gaal's team face a crunch FA Cup quarter-final tie against Arsene Wenger's men on Monday night with both teams keen on bagging some silverware this season.

However, the Dutch manager has confessed that he will be happier if his team finish in the top four rather than them winning the FA Cup and miss out on a place in next season's Champions League.

"I want to get always the goals that we have set. And the goals that we have set are the first four. And a title is fantastic," Van Gaal said, as quoted by the Telegraph.

"What is important for the club when you win the FA Cup you are not in the Champions League but you have won the title. A title."

"So, for the players, it is fantastic, for the manager, it is fantastic, but our goal is to reach in our first year together a place in the Champions League," the former Bayern Munich manager explained.

The Dutchman believes that playing in the Champions League is important for the club, as they will be competing at the highest level, and the manager agrees with rival manager Wenger's comments about 'a place in the top four being as good as a trophy'.

"Yes, I think that he is right. I think that Arsène Wenger is saying always the right things," the 63-year-old manager explained.

"I think that for a club the Champions League is the highest level and that's why he is saying that. And to finish in the first four, it's a fantastic result, I think, and for us, Manchester United, more I think," Van Gaal concluded.