Speculation riles Van Gaal as Man United draw

So United find themselves six points off fourth spot (and 12 behind leaders Leicester) while Chelsea are a whopping 17 points off the top four, leaving that dream dead and buried.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa struck in stoppage time against Manchester United to maintain his scoring streak under interim manager Guus Hiddink, ensuring a 1-1 stalemate in Sunday’s meeting of fallen Premier League powers.

“When you are playing like we have played today (Sunday) and you are not making the gap smaller, you can say it’s misfortune, but it’s not the first time that it’s overcoming us”.

“I had this problem once and it hurts very much, but let’s hope and see tomorrow”.

Missing out on the top four of the league is a real possibility and one that would be disastrous for the club.

Buoyed by breezy recent wins over Derby County, in the FA Cup, and Stoke City, in the league, United made a strong start, with Anthony Martial testing Thibaut Courtois in the 18th minute. Blind slipped as Cesc Fabregas threaded the ball through the United defense and Costa withstood Cameron Borthwick-Jackson’s challenge before rounding De Gea to score.

“We are improving our game lately, and I’m sure this is the way to get a series of good results in the next few weeks”.

“We continued with our good, attacking football”, said Van Gaal, whose side held Chelsea 0-0 at home in December.

“When you win and when you play good football, confidence grows”.

“It was instinct to turn and hit it [for the goal] but it was the three points we wanted. They suddenly become the favourite in the Premier League and it makes our game a big game”.

“Even before, when we were one point ahead of the relegation zone, I said our target must still be the fourth place but…”

Ramsey was also the architect of Arsenal’s second goal a minute later, slipping a pass wide to the overlapping Oxlade-Chamberlain, who drilled a low shot in off the left-hand post for his first away goal in five years.