Van Gaal lauds United spirit after Palace coup

Louis van Gaal believes Manchester United's fighting spirit helped secure the victory that has brought it to the brink of qualification for next season's Champions League.

Van Gaal's side was forced to work hard for a 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday that moved it seven points clear of fifth-place Liverpool, 24 hours before Brendan Rodgers' side traveled to champion Chelsea.

Backed by a far superior goal difference, van Gaal and his players know they will have effectively achieved their main objective on the season if Liverpool fails to win at Stamford Bridge.

The manager could then describe his first season at Old Trafford as a qualified success although the performance at Selhurst Park underlined there is more work to be done.

Against Palace though, the priority was to get a win after three games without a victory or goal.

When Marouane Fellaini's late header gave United victory after Palace winger Jason Puncheon had canceled out Juan Mata's first-half penalty, van Gaal declared himself satisfied with his side's battling qualities.

"Football is crazy because when you see how we played against Chelsea, Everton and West Bromwich Albion and you compare it with today, that was not our best match," said the Dutchman.

"But you win - and that is also the beauty of football. What I have seen today is fighting spirit of my team. And I have said to my players, when you fight like you have fought today, we are difficult to beat. So I am very happy with this result.

"It brings us a big step closer to our goal and now we shall sit down tomorrow with a fantastic glass of wine to see the match between Chelsea and Liverpool."

Goalkeeper David De Gea underlined his importance to United this season with a superb second-half save off home striker Glenn Murray that prevented Palace taking the lead.

"He made a great save at the most important moment because at that time Crystal Palace could have scored their second goal and it would have been difficult for us to come again in the match," said van Gaal.

Palace manager Alan Pardew echoed that praise: "We had a great moment to take the lead and only a fabulous save from the goalkeeper stopped us."

Luke Shaw was stretchered off during the first half and Wayne Rooney was replaced at halftime.

"Luke had an elbow on his face and he had a bloodied nose. He was dizzy so out of precaution we took him off," said van Gaal.

"He went to the hospital and I've already had a message he will fly back so I am not thinking it is too bad. And Rooney has a dead leg so that's why I had to change him."

Pardew was frustrated by the decision of referee Michael Oliver to award a penalty after Ashley Young's cross was adjudged to have been blocked by Scott Dann's arm.

"I'm a bit aggrieved by the penalty. I asked the referee and he said he went with his gut feeling," said Pardew.

"Then in the second half I thought we could have had a penalty when Jason Puncheon went over Mata.

"But I don't want to moan. We fought hard and it's just a shame we didn't get anything from the game."