Van Gaal opts for fine wine

Louis Van Gaal believes Manchester United's fighting spirit helped secure the victory that took them to the brink of qualification for next season's Champions League. Van Gaal's side were forced to work hard for the 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace that moved them seven points clear of fifth placed Liverpool, who were due to play champions Chelsea yesterday afternoon. Backed by a far superior goal difference, Van Gaal and his players know they will have effectively achieved their main objective of the season if Liverpool failed to win at Stamford Bridge. Van Gaal would then be able to 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 secure a win after three games without a victory or goal. And after Marouane Fellaini's late header had given United victory, 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 [Saturday], that was not our best match," said the Dutchman. " But you win. And that is also the beauty of football," Van Gaal added of a match that had seen Palace winger Jason Puncheon cancelling out Juan Mata's first half penalty before Fellaini’s heroics. Goalkeeper David De Gea underlined his importance to United this season with a superb second half save from home striker Glenn Murray that prevented Palace taking the lead. Van Gaal said: " 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." Palace manager Alan Pardew echoed Van Gaal's praise of the keeper. He said: " We had a great moment to take the lead and only a fabulous save from the goalkeeper stopped us. He was outstanding all day." EPL results Saturday, May 9 Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United Leicester City 2-0 Southampton Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham United Newcastle United 1- 1 West Bromwich Albion Stoke City 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur Hull City 0-1 Burnley Everton 0-2 Sunderland LONDON-NAMPA/AFP