Louis van Gaal paid tribute to his Manchester United players after Marouane Fellaini’s late winner at Crystal Palace on Saturday saw them move closer to clinching a top-four spot and a return to the Uefa Champions League next season.
If fifth-placed Liverpool lose at champions Chelsea on Sunday, United will be guaranteed to finish inside the top four.
Even if the Merseyside club are successful against Chelsea and in their other two games, then three points from United’s remaining two games against Arsenal at home and Hull City away will still be enough to ensure they will finish at least fourth.
“We haven’t played our best match, but we have fought to the end,” Van Gaal told the BBC. “It was very important to win this match and it is a right step to qualification for the Champions League.
“We have worked so hard, the players showed the team spirit. I am very proud. When you are fighting like this every week, we are difficult to beat.”
United, who had lost their previous three games, took the lead in the first half yesterday at Selhurst Park when Juan Mata scored from the penalty spot after Scott Dann was judged by referee Michael Oliver to have handled Ashley Young's centre.
It was United's first goal in 316 minutes of Premier League action.
Palace had come back strongly in the second half and equalised through Jason Puncheon’s free kick in the 57th minute.
But United, who had to cope with losing captain Wayne Rooney to a thigh strain at half time and left-back Luke Shaw to an injury in the first half that led to him being carried off, fought back as Fellaini took advantage of a collision between Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni and defender Damien Delaney to head home a Young centre at the far post.
Van Gaal said: "We had injuries, we had to change and the team was out of balance with Phil Jones at left-back and Wayne Rooney, our attacking point, going off.
“We have showed what you can achieve as a team and we have achieved our victory.”
Alan Pardew, the Palace manager, was critical of the penalty decision that had given United their opening goal and had put his side on the back foot.
“I think the referee’s in a bad position to say it warrants a penalty – and I’ve just told him that,” he said following Palace’s fourth successive defeat.
“The ball came in, there was no real threat and Scott Dann leans in and is turning away. I think it hits the shoulder and his chest. From his angle the referee couldn’t tell – it was impossible. I think it is a really tough call.
“We were a lot better second half and I thought we would go on and get a victory – or at least a draw. It is galling to be stood here after a defeat.”
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