Arjen Robben Tips Louis Van Gaal to Return Manchester United to Champions League

A slow start to the 2014-15 campaign has left some in doubt as to whether even the managerial might of Louis van Gaal can restore Manchester United's Champions League status, but Arjen Robben is certain of a return.

The Bayern Munich maestro worked under Van Gaal in Bavaria and with the Dutch national team, and he spoke highly of his compatriot, per the Mirror's David McDonnell:

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I haven’t spoken to him recently, but I was very happy for him that he won the game against QPR. Hopefully now he can show that he will do very well, but he needs time. I know how it works. If you’re not winning, you get the pressure, but the management at United know what sort of coach they’ve got and I’m very confident he’ll be successful there.

I’ve worked with Van Gaal at Bayern as well as with Holland, so I’ve known him for a very long time. He’s one of the few coaches, I think, who can make teams play better. He makes players better. United have some young, talented players and I have no doubts that he will do well at Old Trafford. He will get United back into the Champions League next season, where they belong. They’re such a big club and that’s where they belong.

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Last week's 4-0 victory against Queens Park Rangers was United's first of the campaign, a fixture that saw Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera each get their first Premier League goals for the club.

Gradually, the building blocks would appear to be piecing themselves together—very expensive blocks at that—and the club are beginning to reap the benefits sowed by a summer transfer spend of more than £150 million.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Robben has every reason to believe in the manager, who this summer steered the Oranje to third place at the 2014 World Cup before departing for Old Trafford, the man who brought him to Bayern in 2009.

As Merseyside writer Paul Tomkins testifies, David Moyes' failure to secure any form of European football last season was a stark drop for the Red Devils. It was a changing of the times made all the more evident by Liverpool's resurgence:

Liverpool's revival under Brendan Rodgers once again expands the net of Premier League teams with a genuine Champions League candidacy. Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, United and even Tottenham Hotspur will all expect a top-four finish this term.

As such, it makes United's plans for a return all the more difficult, and despite taking just five points from their first five games, the English giants are almost deserving of a spot, so says Robben.

Van Gaal's men currently sit ninth in the table and will hope the integration of new arrivals Radamel Falcao, Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo will further boost their fortunes moving forward.

The manager has spared no expense in experimentation thus far, per the Daily Mail, fielding an equivalent of three teams in 450 minutes of football:

United now have just two trophies to worry about this season after their Capital One Cup exit at the hands of MK Dons further typified just how upset the apple cart currently is, or at least was, at Old Trafford.

That limitation in distractions leaves even less room for excuse if the side fails to clinch a top-four spot this term, but Robben believes a shrewd mind will help them in their bid to do just that.