Manchester United: Top four ‘is still not gone’ insists Louis van Gaal

Manchester United 'have to give everything so that we don't give Manchester City a free trip into the Champions League' said Louis van Gaal after their loss to West Ham.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal reacts during his team's loss to West Ham United in the Premier League on Tuesday night. Glyn Kirk / AFP / May 10, 2016

Louis van Gaal refused to blame a pre-match attack on the Manchester United club coach as a reason for the team's shortcomings as their Champions League hopes were taken out of their own hands on Tuesday.

In what was an emotionally-charged game, headers from Michail Antonio and Winston Reid secured a 3-2 victory for West Ham United as they bade farewell to their home of 112 years ahead of their move to the Olympic Stadium.

Diafra Sakho had given the hosts the lead until Anthony Martial put United ahead with a second-half double.

The occasion was marred before kick-off when bottles were thrown at the United coach as it made its way into the ground.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed an officer and a member of the public were hurt, with the Football Association confirming it would launch an investigation.

Kick-off was delayed by 45 minutes but West Ham were quickly out of the blocks and, although United rallied after the break, Van Gaal ultimately saw his team's hopes of Champions League qualification severely dented. United trail Manchester City for fourth in the Premier League by two points, and will now need their rivals to lose outright against Swansea City in their final match with no chance of catching City on goal difference.

The Dutchman, though, wouldn’t pin Tuesday night’s disappointment on the pre-match tumult.

• Read more: Louis van Gaal's Manchester United fate should not be decided on next two games

• Also see: West Ham United beat Manchester United, give Boleyn Ground rowdy farewell – in pictures

“First of all you cannot prove that (it had an effect),” he said.

“We live in this world, we know that, I know it is not the first time it happens. Okay, I have a long experience in football and there are players who don’t have the experience.

“It will have an influence but I don’t think we have to look for excuses because we chased the match in the second-half and 20 minutes before full-time we are ahead so I don’t think you have to look for that excuse.

“I think the disappointment is because we were 2-1 ahead, we changed the match in our favour and in a fantastic way.

“Then you lose because of the set-plays and that I have already said before the match, we tried to organise everything but still you miss the centimetres so we have a lot of set-plays and corner goals against us already.

“That is disappointing because it has a big consequence and you lose a game you have to win.”

Despite the loss handing the impetus back to City in the race for fourth, Van Gaal has not conceded his side will miss out on the Champions League this season.

“No it (a top-four finish) is still not gone,” he added.

“In the last match of the season we can pass over Manchester City, they can lose and we can win – then we are fourth, you can count I think?

“I don’t think it is not likely, in this league it happens a lot and Swansea City has a very good run.

“We have to beat Bournemouth and that is tough.

“We have less points than last year and last year we were qualified two matches before the end and now we are still fighting on the last day. It is less but still we can finish as fourth, we have to think only of that.

“It is a mental blow for the players but against Bournemouth we have to give everything so that we don’t give Manchester City a free trip into the Champions League.”

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