Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal wants his side to challenge for the Premier League title next season, reports the Daily Mail.
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The Red Devils have never looked likely to provide competition for likely champions Chelsea in the current campaign, but have managed to break in to the top four and Champions League qualification. With four games to go Man Utd are seven points ahead of fifth placed Liverpool, and it would take a serious capitulation from the team to drop out in to the Europa League positions.
However, next time round the 63-year-old wants a vast improvement in their results. United are 15 points off the top this time round, so it will have to be a very different campaign for this to change.
The Dutchman believes that this can be achieved with the less extensive pre season tour that he has agreed to. The Old Trafford outfit are again going to the USA, but this time only to one coast to lessen the amount of travelling they do.
He said: “It is not a big gap, I don’t think so. You have seen our matches between the top league clubs. You can judge that when clubs play against each other. The board of Manchester United have given three years to get the objective.
“This year, okay we are not challenging but we are very close to the second position. I think Chelsea are far above the other clubs but it can be different next year. We will have a different squad, not just us but Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool and all the other clubs.”
He added on their preparation: “We have started very badly this season. When you cut out the start we shall equal Chelsea for example but we have to start better. Manchester United has already adapted to a better preparation. We shall have two bases in the US so we are not flying between matches, we are going via bus which is better.
“The temperature is lower because we are on the other coast to last year. They have adapted to my criteria so we shall have a better preparation. When I previewed our preparation now it looks better but we have to see of course. Then we have to make the balance in our selection better and then we have to perform better than this year.”