'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal claims that the reason his team is behind the top three Premier League teams Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal at the moment, is because of the absence of prolific goal scorers in the squad. Van Gaal said said securing a spot in the top four is like a “rat race” as his team are only three points ahead of seventh-placed Tottenham Hotspur and two points ahead of arch rivals Liverpool.
Apart from Chelsea and Manchester City, the teams involved in the race to secure the third and fourth position are Arsenal, United, Southampton, Liverpool, and Tottenham as of now.
Manchester United does not have a striker to score 20 goals: Van Gaal
When asked about the lack of goals from his strikers, Van Gaal agreed.
"It is true because I cannot deny it," said the Dutchman. "Robin van Persie cannot deny it, Falcao cannot deny it and Rooney - but he is not playing there so much anymore.
"But we cannot deny that at this moment we don't have a striker who scores 20 goals in the season."
The Premier League’s top goalscorers are Chelsea’s Diego Costa and Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero with 17 goals each. In contrast, United have only managed to score 10 more goals than Costa or Aguero.
Van Persie has scored just 10 times this season while Rooney has scored eight goals in the league. But the most shocking stat has been Radamel Falcao who has only scored four times after his deadline day loan move to Old Trafford.
Lack of goals not an indication of signing a striker in summer: Van Gaal
Though United have failed to score enough goals in the Premier League this season, Van Gaal does not feel it means he needs new strikers.
"This doesn't tell anything about next year," van Gaal said regarding the future of his strike-force.
"They can be having an unlucky year and I have to take account with these aspects and I have to decide, with my staff, if it is these aspects or other aspects,” he concluded.
