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Alex Broadway

Man City beware! United have sent out a statement of title intent, says van Gaal

The Old Trafford boss has his sights set nt on their local rivals at the top of the table.

LOUIS VAN GAAL believes Manchester United’s win at Southampton has sent a statement of title intent to table toppers and local rivals Manchester City.

Anthony Martial scored a double on his first Premier League start and Juan Mata scored what proved to be the winner in the 3-2 triumph, with Graziano Pelle’s brace failing to dent the visitors.

Van Gaal’s team rose to second in the table with the win – just two points behind leaders Man City – and the Dutch coach is confident that his players have the potential to finish as champions in 2015-16.

“It’s a fantastic result away at Southampton and I think we have made a statement that we shall compete for the title,” he told Sky Sports News.

“What I am saying all the time is that we have to improve. We have to improve our team and when we improve our team…last season we were fourth so maybe we can be third now.

“But last year we were close enough to be the champions. I have said that we were very close last year. When you remember the match against Chelsea away, it was very close but we did not score at the time.

“Scoring is the most important thing, you have seen that today, Southampton could have scored to go 2-0 up in the first 15 minutes but they didn’t do it and then we scored. We were the better team after that.”

Next up for the Red Devils is a third round League Cup home tie against Ipswich Town on Wednesday before another Old Trafford tie in the Premier League against rock-bottom Sunderland.

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    Mute P O Leary.
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    Sep 21st 2015, 8:07 PM

    I think the headline is a bit misleading. he said we are not ready/good enough yet but there is a chance we could sneak it. we cannot depend on a 19 year old to score 25+ goals per season(which you need to win the league). from the start I would say most United fans would be happy with a top 3 finish and a good CL win. cup win would be a nice bonus. but in football you never know.

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    Mute Ronan O'Healy
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    Sep 21st 2015, 8:01 PM

    Shows how far we’ve fallen if beating Southampton is a statement of intent

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    Mute adam mac carthaigh
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    Sep 21st 2015, 8:31 PM

    Southampton are now a top ten team and we also beat liverpool i think he’s suggesting the team are growing constantly in confidence and awareness and that win was just another step towards completion, in the hope that in the end we will be strong enough to win a league

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    Mute Kurt Barlow
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    Sep 21st 2015, 8:07 PM

    As usual 2+2 =5 ! What he said was that if we get 2nd or 3rd it will be great but we SHALL ALWAYS COMPETE FOR THE TITLE.

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    Mute neeneee
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    Sep 21st 2015, 7:58 PM

    They’ve had an easy run of games October will show what they’re really made of

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    Mute Danno
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    Sep 21st 2015, 8:56 PM

    Neenee where you hiding yesterday How come ?? Always first on the Utd threads , although you must have been suffering from withdrawal symptoms today cause you’ve had to wait this long to spout your constant sad stupid nonsense

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    Mute neeneee
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    Sep 21st 2015, 10:04 PM

    Ok Danno list out the quality opponents they’ve played so far if I’m talking nonsense

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:12 AM

    neenee, a troll of his word

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    Mute neeneee
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    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:29 AM

    Can you not list any either?

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    Mute Jake
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    Sep 21st 2015, 8:28 PM

    United are no threat to City. Nobody is at the moment to be honest. Only constant injuries to Silva, Kompany and Aguero can give the others a chance.

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    Mute Maire Ui Riain
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    Sep 21st 2015, 11:50 PM

    Van gal is a fantasist

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