Chelsea vs. Manchester United: Louis van Gaal's Key Pre-Match Presser Comments

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has said he believes his side can re-enter the hunt for the Premier League title if they defeat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. 

The Dutchman was in an optimistic mood in his press conference on Friday ahead of the top-flight clash in west London and declared United's challenge "will start again" if they are victorious against the reigning champions, proclaiming "the competition has not finished" yet.

The club's official Twitter feed shared video footage of LvG's comments:

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United and Chelsea are both back in decent shape after an inconsistent run through the first half of the campaign. 

The Blues have seen their title aspirations evaporate, leading to the sacking of Jose Mourinho, and the Red Devils crashed out of the UEFA Champions League at the group stage.

However, United are back to winning ways after convincing displays against Derby County in the FA Cup and a strong performance during the league visit of Stoke City to Old Trafford, as the hosts ran out 3-0 winners.

LvG said his players have responded to the upturn in results, per the club's official Twitter feed:

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Van Gaal admitted United's fluctuations in form before Christmas could prove costly at the end of the season, and the large amount of contact injuries have damaged his options, as quoted by the club's official website:

"

Of course. I cannot prevent contact injuries and we were very unlucky with contact injuries at that time. We don't have muscle injuries, only contact injuries and that is unbelievable. When you don't have any full-backs you have a big problem because they are a big part of our game as they are always in attack. I played with Young at right full-back because he is an attacking full-back.

"

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The manager also gave an update on the fitness of sidelined stars and said he thinks Luke Shaw could potentially be ready to feature in the UEFA Europa League final, if United make it through the whole competition—per the club's website.

"He [Shaw] can play in the final, I have said that to him," said Van Gaal. "That gives him spirit and a goal that he has to live for and it is not impossible, in my opinion it is not impossible." 

LvG also told MUTV the status of returning members of his squad (h/t the club's Twitter feed):

United and Chelsea have looked more in tune with their best form in recent weeks, and the Blues need a victory in order to pull away from the relegation zone. 

The Red Devils remain only five points behind third-placed Tottenham Hotspur and 10 points behind league leaders Leicester City.

If LvG truly has title aspirations after a difficult few months in charge at the Theatre of Dreams, three points at the Bridge become an essential target for United as they look to mount a very late Premier League challenge.