Manchester United's Excellent Form Gives Hope for Next Season's Title Race

In his press conference ahead of Manchester United's victory over Aston Villa on Saturday, Louis van Gaal was asked whether his side could still emerge as victors in the title race.

As reported by Sky Sports, he replied that it was still mathematically possible.

There was a moment on Saturday afternoon when it seemed that it might be time to dream. The excellent display against Villa—United's fifth league win in a row and third successive convincing performance—left this author a little giddy.

The news that Charlie Adam had scored from his own half to bring Stoke City level at Stamford Bridge brought with it a momentary feeling that maybe, just maybe, there would be a genuine chance United could spring one of football's most unlikely surprises and win yet another league title.

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Of course, Chelsea went on to win that game against the Potters, and the moment passed just as quickly as it had arrived.

However, in that giddiness was a kernel of genuine, more long-term belief. Not about mounting a title challenge this season—it is surely too late for that—but Van Gaal's ability to ensure that United are involved in next season's title race until the bitter end.

United's poor form in the early part of this campaign was easy to dismiss. Much of their key transfer business had been done late in the window. Van Gaal repeatedly said that it took players a while to understand his way of doing things. Indeed, in the Villa pre-match press conference, he returned to that theme, saying, reported by Sky Sports:

"

We are working day in day out and we have to see how players respond because the way I train, which I've explained a lot of times, is not easy for players. It's a whole process.

We started at the bottom, unconscious, capable and then your next step is conscious and incapable. And then it is conscious and capable.

Maybe we are now in the last step of that process. I hope so. What I've seen in the last five matches I think so but we have to wait and see because if you lose two times in a row you are not so sure any more.

"

However, as the season progressed and United began to stumble following their six-game winning streak in October and November, belief in Van Gaal's ability to turn things around increasingly became an act of faith.

The performance against Villa seems further evidence that faith is being rewarded.

Van Gaal's assertion that the players are in the "last step" of getting his process, however, may only be part of the picture. The injury to Robin van Persie, suspension of Angel Di Maria and unarguably poor form of Radamel Falcao forced him to do without three of his superstar players.

In doing so, his side finally looked balanced. With the triangle of Antonio Valencia, Juan Mata and Ander Herrera on the right-hand side of the attack and Daley Blind, Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini on the left, opposing teams are faced with a range of stylistic approaches.

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Although it is hard to shake the feeling that events forced his hand into finding the right balance, Van Gaal has embraced his good fortune to great effect.

He has demonstrated loyalty to his good performers ahead of superstar names. Di Maria and Falcao have been relegated to cameo appearances for the time being. Of the two, it is easy to imagine Di Maria finding form and eventually being reintegrated into an even more effective version of the same formation.

Indeed, he made a key impact when he came off the bench against Villa, providing an assist and a couple of other promising moments. Falcao, on the other hand will presumably not be at United by the time August rolls around.

When it does, United will have no doubt dipped into the transfer market again. Improvements in the centre of the defence and at right-back will help the cause, as would a replacement for Van Persie and Falcao. Neither has found anything like the required consistency of form to guarantee his place in the squad.

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With those improvements, the experience of a season of getting to grips with Van Gaal's approach and an apparently functional formation and style, United should have the tools to be a significant player in next season's title race.

The dream may soon become something a lot more real.