Manchester United are at the top of the table of the Premier League, the first time the club has been there since they won the title in 12-13.

“I know exactly where I stand,” Louis van Gaal said. “I have said it before and six weeks ago the same answers. We have a good team but we can win and lose. You need luck but the balance of the team is better than last season. Because of that we need to win our games. I don’t have to wait until October. We shall improve every week, yes. I don’t see it every week but I see [generally] that we are better as a team and a selection.

“I rotate more now because I can. Last year in my opinion I didn’t have the balance. I have let 20 or 25 players go. So it’s a new team. You need luck. Goals are so important. We scored in the last minute of the half so my approach at half-time was therefore much different. It changes everything. I talk in another way.

“How we go back on the field it’s so important. Look at [the match against] Swansea. We dominated for 90 minutes but had five minutes when we didn’t and we lost.”