Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has said that his side have a "big chance" of qualifying for the Champions League following their 1-0 victory over Manchester City this afternoon.

Marcus Rashford scored the only goal of the game at the Etihad Stadium to see United close the gap on their fourth-placed local rivals to just one point.

Van Gaal declared the match as a must-win in the build-up, and having picked up the victory, now believes that a top-four finish is in their own hands.

"I have said in advance that we must win this game and we have done it, so I am very happy because otherwise the gap was too big if they won," Van Gaal told reporters.

"Or a draw is still four points, eight matches to go, so then it should be very difficult.

"Now it is in our own hands, I think. We have to win our games, we have more home matches than away matches. We don't lose so much at Old Trafford so we have a big chance."

United are next in action at home to Everton after the international break.