Manager upbeat after strong display against struggling Villa

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal insists he has not given up hope of ending his first season in charge as a Premier League champion after a 3-1 win over Aston Villa lifted his team into third place.

United's fifth consecutive victory, courtesy of two goals from Ander Herrera and one from Wayne Rooney, lifted United above defending champion Manchester City, who it meets in a derby this weekend, and kept it within eight points of leader Chelsea.

Van Gaal's team also has an eight-point gap over fifth-place Liverpool, making Champions League qualification all the more likely.

But the Dutchman has now his sights set on overhauling Chelsea, which hosts United in a crunch clash later this month, rather than worrying about the teams below.

"The Champions League is not done yet but we made a big gap on Liverpool so we can suffer a defeat," van Gaal said.

"But, of course, I'm also looking higher up the table and then we have to win every week and then everything is possible.

"Liverpool is now eight points behind us and we are more than eight points behind Chelsea, so it's not likely that we shall be the champion. But when you give pressure - and Arsenal is also giving pressure to Chelsea - then it is possible.

"We have to play the top three in the league and normally, if you play against better teams they have achieved more points than you, so it's not yet done."

However, key United players are rounding into form, led by Herrera, who now has seven goals in his debut season in English soccer.

"I knew already that Herrera had a very good technical shot," said van Gaal. "But sometimes he is not composed at the right moment.

"He has developed himself so he is more composed. When you score seven goals in a season where you don't play all the matches, that is a fantastic effort for him, in his first year."

There is now added importance to the Manchester derby for United, but van Gaal is aware City will be far tougher than Villa's defensive-minded approach.

"We knew the performance could have been better but we won and the most important thing is we have to play for higher place," van Gaal said.

"I think against Manchester City it will be a different game. I think City shall not come here in such a defensive organization as we saw against Tottenham and Liverpool.

"Those were the matches that you can say were fantastic matches although, of course, the result was always the most important thing. Maybe I hope we play ugly next week but we win. That's the most important thing."

Christian Benteke brought the game back to 2-1 for the final 10 minutes but Villa, three points above the relegation zone, never appeared likely to snatch a point.

And for the visiting side the disappointment of the defeat was compounded by the loss to an ankle injury of defender Alan Hutton who, along with Scott Sinclair and Ashley Westwood, will miss a crucial meeting with fellow struggler QPR on Tuesday that could determine both clubs' fate.

"I've never known an injury list like it. It's unbelievable," said Villa manager Tim Sherwood.

"But Tuesday was always going to be a massive game, irrespective of what QPR did today.

"I thought we stayed in the game. I wanted to come here and compete and we did that, but they have good players who have been around.

"They recognize when to speed a game up, when to slow it down, and they managed the game well.

"They're a good side."