Manchester United were beaten 3-0 at Tottenham this month

Louis van Gaal says Manchester United would be challenging for the title with Tottenham if he had "a senior creative player".

United are 12 points behind Mauricio Pochettino's second-placed Spurs heading into Wednesday's game against Crystal Palace and were beaten 3-0 at White Hart Lane earlier this month.

But Van Gaal claims that scoreline and the points difference do not represent the true gap in quality between the sides.

And the Dutchman has renewed his call - made last summer and again during the January transfer window - for United to sign more attacking talent.

He said: "We have beaten Tottenham 1-0 [earlier in the season] and until the 70th minute [this month] I think we were the better team but then there was a miscommunication.

"So, I don't think there is a lot of distance between Tottenham and Manchester United, but the distance is in points. They have won more, they are scoring more and that's because they have more creative players.

Louis van Gaal thinks Manchester United have to beat Crystal Palace if they're to have any chance of Champions League qulification Louis van Gaal thinks Manchester United have to beat Crystal Palace if they're to have any chance of Champions League qulification

"It's always the case. I have said in advance what we need and in my opinion I don't have a senior creative player. Everybody knows that."

Van Gaal rejected the chance to join Spurs before Pochettino's appointment in 2014 and claimed after this month's defeat that United will "always" be a bigger club.

United could yet qualify for the Champions League and win the FA Cup this season, and they go to Wembley this weekend for a semi-final with Everton.

Wayne Rooney started United's recent win over Aston Villa

Wayne Rooney is in contention to face his old club after returning from a knee injury, but his place is not guaranteed.

Van Gaal said: "It's dependent on how he plays, like every player. We have to see how he is playing. We will have to see how he is feeling in the second half against Crystal Palace and still he has to play good."